Pastor’s Column 4/27/2025

PASTOR’S COLUMN

27 “Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer, Believe!” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

John 20:27-29, NLT                                                                        

Post-Resurrection Sunday - “Beyond Unbelief!”

When the disciples gathered on what would have been considered eight days after the Resurrection of Jesus, there was one person noticeable with them who was very conspicuous by his absence in the same place a week earlier. Christians and people of other faiths recognize that person as Thomas. In fact, he has long worn the moniker “doubting Thomas.” This is because only in John’s Gospel do we have the account of Thomas making his late appearance with the 10 other disciples andbringing with him the weight of “doubt” about the Lord’s Resurrection. We have no idea what the reception was for Thomas on that Sunday; but we can assume the annoyance the disciples shared with Thomas’ insistence on not believing that Jesus had appeared to them as the Lord had promised.  Many possibly could identify with the unease and resentment of a person who has much to say about an event wherethey were never present and only shares an invalid opinion. The tension in the room probably reached a fever pitch, until the risen Jesus appeared among them. Thomas vowed he would not believe in the resurrected appearance of Jesus unlesshis conditions were met. Many like Thomas  set forth hard conditions to prove or disprove their assertions. For Thomas, belief in the Resurrection only could be proven, he said, “Unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in His side.”(Jn. 20:25b, NLT)  Thomas saw the wounds! It really was the Lord standing before him. It was not Thomas’ absence a week earlier, but unbelief that caused his doubts. When Jesus spoke, the conditions Thomas made evaporated. An  unhindered belief, Jesus promises, can bless all who have this faith!