Scripture - John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed."
Observation - Jesus has been showing up for the past week with the disciples - the first time Thomas was not there and when told about the encounter said "unless I stick my fingers in his wounds, I will not believe". Thomas need to have physical proof that Jesus was alive again. He needed not only his spiritual sense to be confirmed but his physical senses to confirm Jesus as alive. I love that Jesus did not show up the second time to condemn Thomas but satisfied his need to have they physical confirmation. I love that Jesus understands how we think and what we need. Jesus will not only confirm himself to us both in spirit and in flesh. The reality of Jesus is real, tangible and alive and he wants everyone to be convinced of this not matter what. However Jesus explains that the greater blessing is in believing without seeing. Too many of us need proof before we will make a move and Jesus in this statements confirms that Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.
Application - There is an old saying "Seeing is believing". While that may be true there is a great blessing that comes from not needing to see the physical manifestations of God but simply to know that HE IS! To know that Jesus is Jesus because he is Jesus and not needing to stick our fingers in his wounds constantly. It seems to be human nature to want to go poking around Jesus hands to prove that "yes in fact this Jesus". Jesus wants us to trust him without seeing. To believe without the needing a sign. In fact he says that "the foolish look for signs". To believe without seeing gives us a foundation that is strong because our senses will fail us and can be swayed by circumstances. Faith alone is strong.
Prayer - Father help me to see you my faith and not my eyes.
Observation - Jesus has been showing up for the past week with the disciples - the first time Thomas was not there and when told about the encounter said "unless I stick my fingers in his wounds, I will not believe". Thomas need to have physical proof that Jesus was alive again. He needed not only his spiritual sense to be confirmed but his physical senses to confirm Jesus as alive. I love that Jesus did not show up the second time to condemn Thomas but satisfied his need to have they physical confirmation. I love that Jesus understands how we think and what we need. Jesus will not only confirm himself to us both in spirit and in flesh. The reality of Jesus is real, tangible and alive and he wants everyone to be convinced of this not matter what. However Jesus explains that the greater blessing is in believing without seeing. Too many of us need proof before we will make a move and Jesus in this statements confirms that Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.
Application - There is an old saying "Seeing is believing". While that may be true there is a great blessing that comes from not needing to see the physical manifestations of God but simply to know that HE IS! To know that Jesus is Jesus because he is Jesus and not needing to stick our fingers in his wounds constantly. It seems to be human nature to want to go poking around Jesus hands to prove that "yes in fact this Jesus". Jesus wants us to trust him without seeing. To believe without the needing a sign. In fact he says that "the foolish look for signs". To believe without seeing gives us a foundation that is strong because our senses will fail us and can be swayed by circumstances. Faith alone is strong.
Prayer - Father help me to see you my faith and not my eyes.
