Belief in What is Unseen

By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

Text: John 20:19-30

John 20:29

Jesus said to him, ^[b]“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

(NKJV)

Jesus has risen from the grave, but at this point, we only know of Mary Magdalene physically seeing Him (John 20:11-18). Scripture also tells us that when Peter and John saw the empty tomb, they believed, but also tells us that they did not know that Jesus must rise from the dead (John 20:9). While Tomas has the name of doubting Thomas, this passage implies that all the disciples did not believe Mary until Jesus appeared to them. Today, we must come to believe based on what the word of God tells us about Jesus when convicted by the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-8), but belief in what is not seen pleases God (Hebrews 11:1, 6).

The same day that Mary Magdalene saw Jesus, Jesus miraculously appeared to the disciples. The disciples were locked in a room out of fear of the Jews and since Jesus just appeared, he must have either come through the walls or appeared out of thin air. In either case, his appearance is a miracle with Jesus saying, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19). As proof it was Him, Jesus shows them His hands and side, making the disciples glad to see their Lord (John 20:20).

Jesus again offers the disciples peace and commissions them to go just as the Father sent Him to them (John 20:21). Jesus then breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). Jesus then empowers them to forgive the sins of any and when they do, they are forgiven, but if they retain the sins of any, they are retained (John 20:23).

During this miraculous appearance, one disciple was missing, Thomas (John 20:24). Excited about seeing Jesus, the other disciples told Thomas they had seen the Lord, but he will not believe unless he sees the scars on His hands and His side, earning him the name doubting Thomas (John 20:25). The following Sunday, Jesus again appears in the same room to the disciples, but this time Thomas is there with Jesus offering His peace (John 20:26). Jesus then invites Thomas to look at His hands and to put his hand into Jesus’s side, telling Thomas not to be unbelieving but to believe (John 20:27). Upon doing what Jesus told him to do, Thomas believed (John 20:28). Jesus then tells Thomas that because he has seen, he believes but that those who believe but have not seen Jesus are blessed (John 20:29). John then tells us that Jesus did many other signs that are not written in this book (John 20:30).

Jesus appears to the disciples by just appearing in the room that was locked because they feared the Jews. This is Jesus' first appearance to the disciples after the resurrection, and it shows that while they could recognize Him, His body had changed. Thomas, known as doubting Thomas, was not there, and when he is told by the others that Jesus appeared to them, says he could not believe unless he saw the scars on Jesus’ hands and his side (John 20:25). However, we also know that Peter and John did not believe Jesus must rise from the dead (John 20:9). The advantage the other disciples had on Thomas was they had seen Jesus the week before, so it is possible all the disciples did not believe until they saw Jesus. Coming to the belief that Jesus arose from the dead today requires faith because Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession for believers. However, coming to believe in Jesus when we cannot see Him makes us blessed (John 20:29).

While it is said that seeing is believing, faith, or believing in what is not seen pleases God (Hebrews 11:1, 6). Those coming to a belief in Jesus as their Savior do so now, not based on physically seeing Jesus, but on the eyewitness accounts of the disciples recorded in Scripture. This is why it is crucial to have a foundation of Biblical truth in the Church, for since the Word is God, having the truth of scripture is like having God with us. Any Church straying away from the truth of the Bible is like the Laodicean Church, which was more interested in their wealth and prosperity and left Jesus outside the door, knocking to come in (Revelation 3:14-22). Sadly, this is the state of many churches today that do not want to offend people or turn away donors and preach an ear-tickling, unbiblical message (2 Timothy 4:3-4). I urge such churches to return to Biblical truth so people can come to a belief in Jesus as their savior through faith that pleases God.

If you are reading this and believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and arose from the grave on the third day, I invite you to make a public profession of your belief by praying with me now.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Let someone know of your profession of faith or comment on this post. I also urge you to find a church teaching from the Bible so you can grow in your faith. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.