John the apostle wrote how, “Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you”, and in chapter twenty and verse twenty-seven of his book John shared how Jesus told Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and behold my hands; and reach here your hand, and thrust it into my side” where we read:
Then said he to Thomas, Reach here your finger, and behold my hands; and reach here your hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
The verse begins, “Then said he to Thomas, Reach here your finger, and behold my hands; and reach here your hand, and thrust it into my side:” John began with the words, “then said he to Thomas” which means “at that time uttered, declared and proclaimed he, Jesus, to Thomas whose name means a twin”, “reach here your finger” or “move and lead to this place your physical finger”, “and behold my hands” which means “and observe, notice and see my, Jesus', physical hands”; “and reach here your hand” or “and move and lead to this place your physical hand”, “and thrust it into my side” which means “and insert your physical hand into my, Jesus', side of His body”. John shared how Jesus went to “Thomas” and encouraged him to extend his finger and hand to touch the wounds in His hands and side.
The verse continues, “and be not faithless, but believing.” John added the words, “and be not faithless” or “and do not exist as without trust, disbelieving and as an infidel”, “but believing” which means “however and moreover trusting and convinced”. John shared how Jesus told “Thomas” to be a “believer” and not as an infidel and doubter.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus knew what “Thomas” said about Him even though He was not in the room with the other disciples as He revealed Himself to them. “Thomas” made his statement about not believing unless he put his finger in the print of the nails in Jesus' hand and thrust his hand into Jesus' side. Well, now he had his opportunity because Jesus made it available to him. Jesus demonstrated how He was present with His disciples even when they were unable to see Him. Jesus wants all people to believe in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” because then their sins will be forgiven and they will inherit eternal life with God. Those who have doubts about Jesus like “Thomas” should carefully study this portion of scripture and hear Jesus' words, “be not faithless, but believing”.
Next time John shares how Thomas says to Jesus, “my Lord and my God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment