John 20:27-29 - Easter Delayed

On Easter morning, Mary Magdalene had reported to the other disciples, "I have seen the Lord," (Jn 20:18) but some weren't quite convinced. By that evening, they were hiding behind locked doors, fearing reprisals from the Jews since their scheme to kill Jesus had been foiled.

John succinctly tells us "Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them!" (John 20:19, New Living Translation, 2015). Getting through locked doors was nothing to someone who had just escaped death and the grave. To his fearful, troubled followers He said, "Peace be with you" and voluntarily showed them His scars from being crucified.

One disciple wasn't present. Thomas later heard what had happened, but he couldn't share the joy the others felt. (v.24) He wanted not only to see the scars, but to actually touch them. He was an empiricist. He was looking for physical, measurable evidence. His finger could gauge the depth of those wounds, to make sure they were real.

For eight days, Thomas was left to ponder what the others told him.
Easter was delayed for Thomas.

But after eight days, Jesus showed up again.
He blessed them again: "Peace be with you!" (v.26)

Jesus didn't wait for Thomas to make the first move. He already knew what Thomas wanted. “Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.'” (John 20:27, New American Standard Bible, 1995)

Thomas immediately exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!"

There is no record that Thomas actually touched Jesus. In fact, Jesus said, "You believe because you have seen Me." Not, "You believe because you touched Me." (v.29a, NLT) In other words, Thomas didn't need as much "proof" as he thought He did. But then Jesus added, "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." (v.29b, NASB95)

A friend once told me, "I wish I had lived in Jesus' time. Or that He was still on earth. It would be so much easier to believe, to keep the faith." But even in that first week after the Resurrection, there were some who had not yet seen Jesus alive again--but they believed.

Father, You know that many times I echo the prayer, "I believe; help my unbelief." (Mk 9:24) All I ask is that You, the author of faith (Heb 12:2), would continue to grace me with the gift of deeper faith (Eph 2:8)... for Your glory and the glory of Your Son, in whose name we pray. Amen.