BLESSED BY BELIEVING WITHOUT SEEING!
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. —John 20:24-31
Ten other disciples of Jesus, plus the women’s testimony, told Thomas that they had seen the Lord, that He was alive. Thomas’ response to them was— “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” How many people need to bear witness to a person before they believe? Thomas would not even believe these close associates of his. They were not strangers to him. Did he think they were all lying to him?
A week later Jesus appeared to the disciples again and Thomas was with them. When he saw Jesus, he acknowledged Jesus as “My Lord and my God!” Jesus told Thomas that “Because you have seen me, you have believed.” But then Jesus said this— “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Those blessed would include every person who has believed since then without having to see Jesus. Have you believed? Then you are blessed.
How did you come to know Jesus? “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” You believed by reading the written Word or “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17) and so believe by hearing His Word. So, you believed by reading or hearing His Word or a combination of both of them. By believing what you read or heard or both, you were believed and are blessed. The end result is that you have eternal life through His Name!
If you have not believed yet, why? How many people who follow Jesus and have told you about Him will it take for you to believe? Or will you fall into the same fate as the rich man’s brothers who it was said of— “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31). Or, will you be blessed because you have believed His Word without having to see Him physically? Oh, that you would believe if you have not already. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD6khv6pGkw&t=14s
Yes, Dear Father, if there are any reading this that do not know Jesus, may they call on Him now and be blessed. So be it by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEW4EVvFNXo&list=RDyEW4EVvFNXo&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70qk6tLHht4&list=RD70qk6tLHht4&start_radio=1