Day 40: Blessed Are Those Who Believe — John 20:24-31
Today marks Day 40 of our Lenten journey, "From Promise to Resurrection." As we reflect on the culmination of this series, we turn our focus to a profound encounter in the Gospel of John, specifically John 20:24-31. This passage not only underscores the resurrection of Jesus but also highlights the blessedness of belief in the risen Christ.
After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples, providing them with the ultimate proof of His divine authority and fulfilled prophecy. However, Thomas, one of the Twelve, is not present during this miraculous appearance and expresses doubt about Jesus' resurrection. His demand to see and touch Jesus' wounds before believing is a pivotal moment in the narrative.
Jesus' response to Thomas upon His next appearance is both gentle and revelatory. He invites Thomas to touch His wounds and encourages him not to doubt but believe. Thomas' subsequent declaration, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28), is one of the most explicit acknowledgments of Jesus' divinity in the New Testament. This moment is crucial as it transitions from doubt to profound faith and recognition of Jesus' true nature.
The passage concludes with Jesus' words, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). This statement extends beyond the immediate context of His disciples and reaches out to all future believers. It underscores the importance of faith without physical proof and sets a foundation for the Christian walk based on belief in the testimony of the witnesses of Christ's resurrection.
This teaching from Jesus serves as a cornerstone for understanding the nature of faith. It challenges believers to trust in the truth of God's Word and the testimony of those who have encountered the risen Christ. The call to believe without seeing is a fundamental aspect of Christian faith that resonates through the ages, encouraging a reliance not on physical evidence but on spiritual truth revealed through Scripture.
As we conclude this Lent series, we are reminded of the journey from the promises made in the Old Testament through their fulfillment in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The story of Thomas, while unique, mirrors the journey of every believer who wrestles with doubt yet seeks to find the truth in the person of Jesus. It invites us to reflect on our own moments of uncertainty and the gracious revelation of faith that comes through trusting in what we have not seen.
May this reflection deepen our faith and encourage us to embrace the blessedness of believing in Jesus Christ, whose resurrection is the true fulfillment of God's promise and the basis of our hope. As we move forward from this Lenten season, let us hold fast to the faith we profess, for our faith is not in vain but is anchored in the reality of Christ's victory over death.
