Have no doubt

Caravaggio: Still Doubting by John Granville Gregory

"The Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" - John 20:29 (NIV)

It was a pretty momentous and for some, preposterous time for the disciple and other followers of Jesus. Their Messiah and leader had just been killed, crucified for crimes cooked up by the religious leaders of the time. So when news came that Jesus was in fact alive, it was hard to believe.

At first, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, and then to most of his disciples, giving them the Holy Spirit. They were excited to see him, for everything they had believed was coming true.

One disciple, Thomas (called Didymus), did not believe the news, however. He had not been with the disciples when Jesus came, so he did not believe the story. He said this in response:

"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." - John 20:25b (NIV)

This is a common argument against putting your faith in God and trusting in Jesus for your salvation. How do we know that all of this did happen? How do we know that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead before eventually returning to heaven (see Acts 1:9)? How do we believe anything that is taught and spoken of in the Bible?

Not to be trite, but sometimes it does take a little bit of faith. God chooses to reveal Himself in this world, like through His creation or miracles like when a baby is born. It is just a question whether we choose to believe where they actually come from and not someplace where we "think" they may have come from.

For Thomas, Jesus appeared to the disciples again a week after Thomas said he did not Jesus had risen from the dead. He invited Thomas to put his fingers in the holes in his hands, and put his hand in his side, to which Thomas replied, "My Lord and My God!" (John 20:28)

Jesus then said it is one thing to believe when you have seen Him; it is another to believe when you don't have the evidence standing right in front of you. Sometimes, according to John,

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." - John 20:31 (NIV)