Sunday, March 15, 2015
“But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” [John 20:24-29]
This scripture passage begins and ends with a conversation. It opens with a conversation between Thomas and the other disciples. The disciples have just seen Jesus and the tell Thomas all about their experience. Thomas does not believe their “wild tale.” He says he will only believe if he too has a personal encounter with Jesus. Given everything that occurred since Jesus’ arrest, Thomas’ doubt is understandable. He is not left to doubt for too long; a week later Jesus appears and the second conversation begins.
Jesus has a conversation with Thomas. Jesus invites Thomas to touch his wounds, Thomas calls Jesus God, and Jesus says “Have you believed because you have seen me?” This conversation has been depicted by thousands of artists. Most of the time, artists depict Thomas touching Jesus’ wounds. This makes for a great image, and it fits with the flow of the story. It does not align with the scripture. In this section of John, Thomas never touches Jesus. If Thomas had touched Jesus’ wounds Jesus would have said more like “Have you believed because you have touched me?” Jesus does not use a word that implies physical contact; he uses seen. Thomas believed because like the other disciples, he saw Jesus.
Sometimes, I am jealous of the disciples. They got to have firsthand encounters with Jesus. They got to see Jesus. How much easier would it be to believe if we could see Jesus? Jesus, the Palestinian man from 2000 years ago, is not physically present in our world today. We can’t see him they was the disciples could. Yet, Christ is present in our lives and our world. When have you seen Christ? What was the experience like? Who in your life can you share this experience with? At first they might react like Thomas but sharing your experiences of God might just prime someone for their own experience.
God of grace, we know ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” but we still long to see you. Help us to see glimpses of you in our world around us so that we may come to know you better. Amen.
–Kate Byers