Can You Believe Without Seeing?

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. "Peace be with you," He said. Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!" "My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me." John 20:26-29.

Eight days after the Resurrection Jesus was standing right there in the Upper Room talking to Thomas and the other disciples. When Jesus had appeared to the disciples in that room on His Resurrection day, Thomas had not been there. Thomas was such a doubter…I won’t believe…

They (the other disciples) told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in His side." John 20:25.

Room of the Last Supper - Jerusalem

Would you believe without touching His side or His hands? Of course, you could—but would you? We don’t have the same opportunity as Thomas to live in that era—but unlike Thomas, we can believe without actually touching Jesus hands and side. And that believing without seeing is what Jesus called blessed.

When Jesus was speaking to His disciples about His use of parables, He said…

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.' "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. Matthew 13:15-16

Ears to hear and eyes to see—both are gifts from the LORD. Proverbs 20:12

Do your ears hear…your eyes see? Can you believe without seeing?

Prayer ~ Lord God, Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Psalm 119:18.

I am listening to Your instructions. Open my ears to what You are saying, for You are speaking in parables, teaching me hidden lessons from the past. From Psalm 78:1-2. Give me insight and understanding that I may not only learn, but share Your words and wisdom with my family, friends, and neighbors.

Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87

© 2017 Text and photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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