The Faith that Opens Our Eyes

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, 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 in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, 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 believed” (John 20:24-29).

Jesus showed up again, making a special appearance to Thomas, who was not present at His first post-resurrection meeting with the disciples. Thomas was with the disciples on that first resurrection night, according to Luke’s account of the report brought from the disciples that encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus… “And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together” (Luke 24:33). But Thomas left for some reason and did not return until after the appearance of Jesus. Thomas firmly believed Jesus had died. The Master he had followed so closely for three years had died right before his eyes at Calvary. He had trouble believing Jesus was alive because he had not seen him with his own eyes. Eight days passed before Jesus came a second time. And when He came this time, Jesus provided indisputable proof of His resurrection not only for Thomas, but for all of us who were not present that first night. Through the skepticism of the one that became known forever as Doubting Thomas we are shown important truth about the faith that opens our eyes.

We all know people that live by the proverb, seeing is believing. If we stop to think seriously about the logic behind this saying we will recognize its deception. There are many things we believe that we cannot see. I don’t see how all the theories of aerodynamics work together to get and keep a plane flying in the air, but I have often believed that one of them will get me where I need to go safely. Then there is the question about just how much we can trust our own eyes. What do you see in the image to the left, two faces or one vase?

God knows how difficult it is for our carnal minds to grasp and trust spiritual truth. In His providence He had Thomas absent from the original meeting so we all would have at least this one disciple we could relate to. When He showed up for Thomas, Jesus came supernaturally. The locked doors and solid walls could not stop Him. Jesus is God incarnate fulfilling His promise to be found by anyone that diligently seeks Him… “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me” (Proverbs 8:17). In the same way, Jesus promises to show up to anyone who earnestly seeks Him… “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

The Spirit exhorts us to notice just how specifically Thomas expressed his doubt. He was clear that He had to see and touch the wounds of His Master. He would be satisfied by nothing short of a personal confirmation by Jesus that He was God. And Jesus was just as specific in His supernatural appearance to Thomas. Diligent disciples often need Jesus to show up just as explicitly as Thomas did. Jesus wants us to expect Him to show up and reveal Himself to us according to our need. He wants us to expect blessings beyond what our natural eyes can see. The Holy Spirit echoes this challenge through the pen of the Apostle Paul… “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus exhorts maturing disciples to live by faith that He will show up and show that He is God over the trials of this natural life.

As we grow up into Christ our spiritual insight and confidence increases as we mature in…

The Faith that Opens Our Eyes.