Blessed Faith: Thomas believed because he saw the risen Lord, but this does not mean that all who see will believe. Scripture is full of examples of those who saw miracles and still did not believe.[1] Jesus Himself even said to the Jews once, “you have seen me and yet do not believe” (John 6:36). Seeing does not always mean believing. Thomas did believe because he saw, but that is not the only reason or even the supreme reason for his faith. The ultimate reason why he confessed Jesus as “my Lord and my God” is the work of God’s grace in his heart (Eph. 2:8).[2] When it comes to this gift of faith, believers who have not seen the Lord have nothing less. The Lord, therefore, elevates the faith of those who believe through the words of the apostles (John 17:20) and calls it “blessed.” True blessedness is not to see the risen Christ with our physical eyes but to behold Him with the eyes of faith. We may not share in Thomas’ experience, but we do share in his faith and that of the apostles (2 Pet. 1:1).

Life: The outcome of faith is life in Jesus’ name. John began his gospel with this: “In Him was life” (Jn. 1:4). This life is indeed eternal life, not only what we receive in the afterlife, but what relational knowledge of God we can have in Christ (Jn. 17:3) both now and for all eternity. This is the spiritual life (fellowship with God) lost in Eden (Gen. 2:17)[3] restored to us in Christ (Eph. 2:5; Col. 2:13). Jesus was alive with joy (Ps. 16:11) and He shares that life of joy with all who abide in Him, His word, and His love (Jn. 15:5-11). Let us abide and live!

[1] Examples of this abound in Scripture: Pharaoh (Ex. 11:9-10), children of Israel in the wilderness (Ps. 78:22; 95:8-10), the Jews of Jesus’ day (John 2:23-25), Chorazin and Bethsaida (Matt. 11:21), and Judas Iscariot.

[2] This is the resounding testimony of Scripture. Cf. Matt. 11:25-27; 16:17; John 6:37, 65; Phil. 1:29.

[3] Cf. Luke 15:32; John 5:26; 6:53; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:1-5; 1 Tim. 5:6; 6:19; 1 John 3:15.