Day 46 – See and believe

John 20:19-30

When it was evening that same day, the first day of the week, and where the disciples were together behind closed doors, for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! If you forgive and release anyone’s sins, they are forgiven and released from them. If you retain any, they are retained.”

But Thomas, one of the twelve, the one called Didymus, “the twin”, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail stamps in his hands, and put my finger in where they made their marks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

After eight days, his disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Bring your finger here, and see my hands. And bring your hand here, and put it into my side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and still believed.”

Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing and trusting, you may have life in his name.

For reflection

When you haven’t been certain about faith in Jesus, what have you asked for in reassurance? Have you ever received any you can thank him for, or do you need to ask again today?