Do You See? Why is That?

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

In the words that Jesus spoke to Thomas, I don’t think that Jesus meant that Thomas and those who had seen and believed were not blessed. They were, but Thomas vowed not to believe unless he put his finger into Christ’s nail-driven hands and reached into his wounded side. Thomas was certainly blessed because Jesus appeared to him and presented himself for examination. Jesus knew Thomas’ doubt; thus Christ appearing to him is surely an illustration of God’s effectual call and election. There is no coaxing God to act. Christ’s appearing was an act of mercy. He didn’t have to appear.  Of course Thomas, realizing his unbelief and the shame of his demand, exclaimed, ‘My Lord, and my God!’ Although it was not stated, I can imagine Thomas kneeling before Christ on the floor; his head sunk into his hands, sobbing; as Jesus stood over him and ever so softly brushed the hair on his head, which His Father kept count. I can also imagine that Jesus looked up, as he did when he set his face towards Jerusalem days earlier; looked past the others in the room, and gazed into the future where he saw, 2000 years later, my unbelieving face and sinful figure cowered in the corner of an unbelieving world.

As for blessing us who did not see him or who did not witness the events that led to his death,  I ask, what was your first thought when you read this verse? It might have been a split-second reaction; perhaps more of a feeling than a thought. You might have experienced a moment of deep, personal satisfaction as if you knew what Thomas came to know, or in a moment’s guilt, you didn’t know at all. Since humans share much of what we are, think and act in common, I can imagine some of the reactions.

• “No, no, I wouldn’t have demanded what Thomas did. I’m a student of Christian apologetics; that is not to say that I believe that we have anything for which to apologize, but I have done sufficient research into the matter of the resurrection to know it is a factual, historical event.”
• Another might have thought, “I was born in the church; baptized as a child; my parents provided my instruction and taught me what happened to Thomas. I believed what they said because that is what they taught me.” He replied but then hesitated, after remembering something else. “Doubting Thomas; yes, that’s right! My mother told me not to be one, and she certainly didn’t want me to give her a Judas kiss when I asked for another cookie!”
• Another still, with a touch of embarrassment, “I’m a Christian, but I can’t say that I’m familiar with this story. It’s been so long since I read the Bible. I just think if it was that important, the pastor would have covered it in church. I mean, last week he covered global warming!”
• And yet another person at first sheepishly answered, but then his countenance brightened, “Yes, I experienced that moment. I cannot begin to tell you how distressed I was;  I thought I was a Christian all along, but there was a day….yes, a particular day that I faced the enormity of my sin, and thinking about the suffering that I caused because of my pride and selfishness, I couldn’t take it any longer. It was only then that I found myself in the upper room and realized His visitation. Something happened…you know, inside me, but I realized that I hadn’t believed at all. I was just like Thomas. Here, I thought I had walked and talked with him; shared the communion table, but I hadn’t.”

The point is that each of us must have shared to some extent of experience what I call the ‘Thomas Moment’; that is, we did if we were effectually called. Paul, on the road to Damascus; Peter realizing that he had denied Christ thrice and then seeing Jesus look at him from across what had then to be a terrible, helpless expanse of the High Priest’s courtyard; Mary Magdalene, confused; alone and who unknowingly met and spoke with Jesus outside the tomb. For every one that is blessed today, and who did not live then to see, please don’t suggest that you didn’t have your own solitary meeting. Each of us who call upon the name of the Lord has had a very special, private and personal moment that we first spent with our resurrected Savior and Lord. Oh, we may not have felt much at the time of that initial meeting; the sweetness of his presence might have then extinguished all of our fear and doubts. For others, there might have been watershed tears, quaking, or cries of agony sent heavenward immediately before His sweet arrival, as I’m sure the disciples felt before meeting Him in Galilee, or as Thomas, in the upper room.

On the other hand, Thomas, upon seeing Jesus, might as well have cried out, “My Lord, and my God!” in simple obedience and humble recognition.  I don’t know. But I do know that what happened with Thomas should be true of us: There came that singular moment when we knew the reality of the person of Christ; not the story, what was said, or what was heard. We sought Him; not the benefits, and experienced the vitality, forgiveness and removal of all guilt, and a renewed life. He brought those to us as a housewarming gift; even as He entered to dwell and take up residence in our hearts and minds. As for the blessing that He promised that day? Well, for me it was realized when he introduced Himself; to me, a sinner who lived in a dark world and hid in shadowy places; who was dead and a child of disobedience. May God meet you too in His upper room.