Thomas honestly thought he had seen it all. Perhaps that is why Thomas had such a difficult time believing when the other disciples told him they had seen the resurrected Jesus. Thomas honestly thought he had seen it all as he told them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
To appreciate Thomas’ statement about what would be required for him to believe in the resurrected Jesus, it is important to understand the Greek word, pisteuo, that means “to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to place confidence in.” Recorded 98 times in the Gospel of John, pisteuo is found in the three instances where Thomas is mentioned in John.
The first instance is in the 11th chapter of John where Jesus received news about the critical illness of his friend, Lazarus. Rather than rushing to heal Lazarus, Jesus takes his time as Lazarus dies in the town of Bethany which was about two miles from Jerusalem. It is a moment where Thomas likely thought he had seen it all as Jesus told his disciples, “For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” In response to this statement by Jesus about believing, John 11:16 records Thomas telling his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
The second time that pisteuo is connected with Thomas in the Gospel of John is found in today’s scripture lesson as Thomas states what will be required for him to believe what his fellow disciples were telling him:
- To see in Jesus’ hands the print of the nails
- To place his finger in the mark of the nails.
- To place his hand in Jesus’ side.
Or to put it another way, Thomas was telling his fellow disciples, “I will believe it when I see it.”
The third time pisteou is mentioned in connection with Thomas also occurs in today’s scripture reading as Jesus defines belief in a new way. Rather than Thomas believing in Jesus as the result of seeing Jesus, Jesus announces the blessing of resurrection faith in telling Thomas “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
The story of Thomas in the Gospel of John is an invitation to see it all as we confess with Thomas that the resurrected Jesus is our Lord and our God. Carol Loewen is an author and speaker who wrote about seeing it all through the resurrected Jesus. I invite you to listen to her witness about the blessing of resurrection faith.
“When my late husband and I waited several months for a transplant in Florida, we heard stories from a lot of folks. One of the people we met was named Cliff who asked what kept us going. Jerry shared that what gave us hope was our faith in Jesus Christ.” Reflecting upon that conversation, Carol writes:
Everyone believes in something.
It may be your own capabilities and skills.
It may be that statement, “It’s all good.”
It may be trusting that someone else will take care of whatever concerns you.
It may mean ignoring the pain around you and hoping it will go away.
It may be your financial security.
But when it comes to life and death, when it comes to real purpose and meaning in life, Jesus Christ is the only sure foundation we have. … Where is your hope?
The resurrected Jesus invited Thomas to see it all as he said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” The resurrected Jesus invites you to do the same.
Seeing It All
by Pastor Marc Brown
April 7, 2024
Accompanying Scriptures: John 20:19-31
Fort Hill United Methodist Church
Order of Worship for April 7, 2024
Scripture Lesson John 20:19-31
The Good News “Seeing It All”
Music “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” Hymn #158
Prayer
Blessing
Closing Music “He Keeps Me Singing” arr. Mark Hayes
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