“But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.’”
John 20:25
Once there was a little girl who desperately wanted to believe in Jesus. She prayed every night for Jesus to come back so she could touch Him and know for sure that He was real. She promised she would only take a couple minutes of His time. She promised that if only He would do this, she’d be a good girl the rest of her life. I know this story to be true because I was that little girl.
Jesus didn’t answer my prayer the way I hoped. But He did come back for one who was just as skeptical: Thomas. Jesus had died and risen from the dead. The other disciples had seen Him and told Thomas that Jesus was alive. But he refused to believe it unless he saw Jesus in person for himself. A week later, Thomas was with the disciples in a locked room, and Jesus appeared again. Knowing the heart of Thomas, Jesus invited him to place his finger in the nail prints and his hand into His side. Flooded with joy and relief, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus’ doubting friend has encouraged us through the ages to believe and wait hopefully.
Jesus didn’t answer my prayer the way I hoped. But He did come back for one who was just as skeptical: Thomas. Jesus had died and risen from the dead. The other disciples had seen Him and told Thomas that Jesus was alive. But he refused to believe it unless he saw Jesus in person for himself. A week later, Thomas was with the disciples in a locked room, and Jesus appeared again. Knowing the heart of Thomas, Jesus invited him to place his finger in the nail prints and his hand into His side. Flooded with joy and relief, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus’ doubting friend has encouraged us through the ages to believe and wait hopefully.
Scripture Focus
John 20:24-29
Insight
We will see Jesus in heaven. Until then, we can rejoice that He said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29b).
Bible In A Year
- Genesis 39-40
- Matthew 28
- Psalm 20
