It had been a very difficult past three days for Thomas. It started late Thursday night with the arrest of Jesus by the religious authorities. Then a mockery of a trial overnight, followed by His crucifixion on Friday. Thomas chose to spend the next couple of days by himself. His grief was such that he preferred to be by himself, rather than with the other disciples. Then later in the day on Sunday, the other ten disciples were telling him some unbelievable news, that Jesus was risen from the dead, and that they all had seen Him! This is the setting for our Scripture from the Gospel of John today.
As mentioned above, ten of the disciples were gathered together. The betrayer Judas was dead, and Thomas was not among them. Some people like to be with friends and loved ones when they are grieving and troubled. Others prefer to be alone, and Thomas was probably one of the latter. Some of the women who also followed Jesus had told them earlier that day that they had gone to the tomb and that Jesus was not there. They told of angels and of His resurrection. Mary Magdalene had even seen and spoken to Jesus. However, they were still quite afraid of the authorities and continued to keep the doors locked and bolted. That evening as they were gathered together, puzzled and afraid, Jesus appeared standing among them (vs. 19-20).
Jesus now had a glorified body, and He was able to come into a locked room. Though His body was glorified, it was still a physical body, as He showed them the wounds in His hands and side. This was not a spirit or ghost of Jesus. The wounds were proof of His bodily resurrection and proof that the atonement was complete. Jesus’ first words to them were a blessing of peace. It is the peace purchased by His death (John 14:27; Romans 5:1). The disciples were now glad, as fear turns to joy when Jesus is present.
Jesus proceeded to give them a commission (vs. 21). This was not the same event as the Great Commission of Matthew 28, but is consistent with it. They have a mission to reveal God and proclaim the truth to the world. Jesus also breathed on the disciples, bestowing the Holy Spirit (vs. 22). This was not Pentecost, which would happen in a little over a month, but was a symbolic, anticipatory act. This was a pledge of the Holy Spirit, a preparation for the coming empowerment. Then the disciples were authorized to declare God’s terms of forgiveness (vs 23). When they preach the gospel, they can confidently say that those who believe in Jesus will be forgiven their sins, but those who reject the Gospel will remain in their sins. We are admonished to be forgiving of others who sin against us. If we withhold forgiveness, we will be denied forgiveness, as well. Don’t stand in the way of your own relationship with God by denying forgiveness to someone else.
These ten disciples then told their missing brother Thomas that Jesus had come and appeared to them (vs. 24-25). However, Thomas did not believe, and even said that he would only believe if he put his fingers into the nail prints, and his hand into the wound on Jesus’ side. We shouldn’t be too hard on Thomas, as he honestly struggled with believing. He wanted to know with certainty, and was slow to accept the testimony of the others. Jesus didn’t condemn him, He met him where he was in faith.
A week later, on the following Sunday evening, Jesus appeared again, repeating the blessing of peace (vs. 26-27). Then He turned to Thomas and invited him to touch the wounds, telling him to not be faithless, but to believe. Jesus’ encounter with Thomas shows that the Lord has patience with those who struggle with faith. He is willing to give evidence, and desires to bring people to faith in Him, not to shame them for their doubts.
Thomas then responded with one of the clearest declarations of Christ’s deity (vs. 28). By calling Jesus “Lord” he was declaring that Jesus was His Master, and Thomas also proclaimed Jesus’ deity, that He was God. Jesus accepted this worship, giving proof that He is truly God. He responded with a blessing to Thomas who saw and believed, and also with a blessing to those who believe without even seeing (vs. 29). This blessing is for all future believers, to you and me, and everyone who trusts the Gospel.
John concluded with the statement that Jesus did many signs, which were never recorded (vs. 30-31). John recorded what he did so that we all would believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. By believing the testimony of John we can have life in Jesus’ Name.
One final look at the wounds which the Risen Savior has in His hands, feet, and side. When you and I get to heaven, God will take away all of the scars that we have, both physical scars and emotional ones. However, Jesus will eternally bear the scars of our sins, the scars that purchased our salvation. We are engraved onto God’s hands (Isaiah 49:15-16). We are like an open wound on the hand of God, unforgettable, always before His eyes. We are engraved as scars on Jesus’ hands. They are a reminder of God’s incredible love for us, more tender than even a mother’s love for her baby.
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