One U.S. state, Missouri, has the nickname “The Show-Me State”. Supposedly, at least the nickname might indicate, the residents of Missouri are a skeptical group, not easily convinced, and must see something before they believe. This describes the Apostle Thomas rather well. Our Scripture for today tells of a memorable account in Thomas’ life, one where he followed Missouri’s nickname. He might easily have been given honorary citizenship in that state!
After the arrest of Jesus, the eleven apostles fled in fear. The Apostle John must have returned, as the Gospels record him being at the foot of the cross when Jesus died. However, the others disappeared throughout Jerusalem. They must have been in touch with each other, as when word spread the following Sunday morning that the women had found Jesus’ tomb empty, they gathered together. That is, all of them except for Thomas. This is where our Scripture reading from John’s Gospel picks up.
The evening of the day of Jesus’ Resurrection, ten of the apostles were gathered together in a room, possibly the same room that the Last Supper had been held. Jesus then came and stood in the group, and gave them His blessings of peace (vs. 19-23). Unfortunately Thomas was not among them, and we know that the betrayer, Judas, had already committed suicide. We might wonder why Thomas was not with the others that night. Though the Bible does not specify, perhaps he was just so depressed and discouraged from all of the events that past Friday when Jesus was crucified, that he preferred to be alone. Some people desire to be alone when they are so despondent and depressed, and Thomas was probably one like that. He also might have been afraid of the religious leaders who might have decided to arrest all of Jesus’ disciples.
During the week, Thomas was told by the others that not only had the women seen Jesus, but that they had as well. Thomas, though, did not believe them. Not only did he not believe them, but he was so skeptical that he said that he would not believe unless he actually put his fingers into the scars of the nail holes in Jesus’ hands! (vs. 24-25).
One week later the group was gathered together again, and this time Thomas was with them. Jesus appeared again to give them His blessing of peace (vs. 26). And this time Jesus called Thomas over to personally see the wounds in His hands and side (vs. 27). I don’t believe that Jesus said this in an angry or scolding way. I think that He said it with love. And Thomas responded with a declaration of faith, not only in Jesus as his Lord, but also belief that Jesus was God, was divine, and part of the Trinity (vs. 28).
When faced with fear and uncertainty, do we trust God’s unseen sovereignty and His personal care for us, or do we fall apart? We need to walk by faith, and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7). We need to believe and trust our Shepherd and Guide completely. We should live, not only by what we see, but also by what God’s Word tells us. God will guide us through all trouble.
When all believers get to heaven, any scars that we have will be gone. Any scars from surgery or accidents will be gone, along with any deformities. However, there is Someone there who will still have scars upon His Body, and that is the Lord Jesus. Jesus will bear the scars of our sins for all eternity, scars that He received when He paid the price for our sins upon the cross. When Jesus appeared to the apostles, including Thomas, that day, He showed them the nail holes in His hands as evidence of who He is, and the love He has given. They prove Jesus to be the Savior, and tell the story of our salvation. We are engraved as scars in Jesus’ hands (Isaiah 49:16).
In closing, we have all the proof we need that Jesus has risen, and that He is the Messiah, the Son of God, written in the Words of the Bible, and in the testimony of believers (vs. 30-31). Trust God! Look beyond what we can see to what He sees. See in those nail prints in His hands the deep love that Jesus has for you!
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