Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.”26 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.” 27 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.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Word Study: The word never in verse 25 is the Greek word “ou me” which is a double negative emphasizing the negative part.
Comment: When Jesus appeared to His disciples for the first time, John tells us that Thomas was not present. When they told him that they saw Jesus, Thomas did not believe. Thomas made it clear that unless he physically sees Jesus and the mark of the nails in His body and place his hands into His side, He will never believe. As already explained, the never in Thomas’s statement was more like absolutely never. So, he was adamant that he will never believe unless he physically sees and
touches Jesus. Eight days later, meaning, the very next Sunday, as they were meeting again, this time Thomas was with them, the doors were once again locked and once more Jesus stood among them and said Peace be with you.
touches Jesus. Eight days later, meaning, the very next Sunday, as they were meeting again, this time Thomas was with them, the doors were once again locked and once more Jesus stood among them and said Peace be with you.
Jesus knowing what Thomas had said, how did He know? because He is God and is all knowing. Knowing what Thomas had said, asked Thomas to put his finger on His hands and see them, his hand on His side and see it. Then He told Thomas to not disbelieve but believe. John does not tell us if indeed Thomas did do what Jesus asked but, it may appear that he did since he said otherwise he will never believe. Thomas moved from complete disbelief to complete belief. Then Thomas made the most important confession and said “My Lord and my God”. If there was any doubt that Jesus indeed had risen flesh and bones from the dead, that doubt was wiped out by Thomas’s confession. Thomas would never have believed but he did. Amen.
Jesus then asked Thomas if he only believes because he has seen. This question again confirms that Jesus has risen indeed. Otherwise Thomas would never have believed. Then Jesus made a very important statement that blessed are those who have not seen but yet believed.
Message: Thomas wanted to see and touch first before he believed and Jesus said blessed are those who have not seen but yet believe. This refers to you and I that have not physically seen or touched the body of the resurrected Jesus but yet believe that He has risen indeed. Are you like Thomas?
The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Comment: To even begin to think that what is written in the gospel of John is all that Jesus did would not make sense at all. We have already seen that there are other things that happened after Jesus’s resurrection that John did not record but Luke did, and the reason is given to us here by John. John says there are indeed other sings that Jesus did in front of His disciples who are now eye witnesses but are not written in this gospel. John says he only chose the ones he chose so that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God so that we may have eternal life in His name.
Message: Do you believe?