John the apostle wrote how, “Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came”, and in chapter twenty and verse twenty-five of his book John shared how Thomas said, “except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails … and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.” John began with the words, “the other disciples” which means “the other students, pupils and attendants of Jesus” “therefore said unto him” or “then, wherefore and on this account uttered, declared and proclaimed to Thomas”, “we have seen the Lord” which means “we, the other disciples, have observed, perceived and beheld the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”. John shared how Jesus' “other disciples” told Thomas about them “seeing” Him.
The verse continues, “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.” John added the words, “But he said unto them” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover he, Thomas, uttered, declared and proclaimed to the other disciples”, “except I shall see in his hands” which means “lest or unless I, Thomas, behold, observe and perceive within his, Jesus', physical hands” “the print of the nails” or “the mark of a stroke or blow, impression or scar”, “and put my finger” which means “and place, set and insert my, Thomas', physical finger” “into the print of the nails” or “into the mark of a stroke or blow, impression or scar belonging to the spikes”, “and thrust my hand into his side” which means “and insert my, Thomas', physical hand into the side of Jesus' body”, “I will not believe” or “I, Thomas, will not think it to be true, be persuaded or have confidence in the other disciples seeing Jesus”. John shared how Thomas doubted the “other disciples'” testimony concerning seeing Jesus and told them he would not believe that they saw Him unless he put his finger in the scars where the “stakes” to hold Jesus to the cross were and put his hand in the wound in Jesus' side made by the spear.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how “Thomas” did not believe his fellow “disciples” actually saw Jesus. He is known as “Doubting Thomas”, and although he demonstrated courage and belief in the past, “Thomas” had a difficult time believing Jesus was alive. Many people “doubt” Jesus. They are not certain that He is the Messiah of God nor the Son of God. They do not believe the stories about Jesus' miraculous works among people, and they certainly don't believe He rose from the dead. Nonetheless, God loves everybody, and He sent His Son Jesus to pay for the sins of the world by dying on the cross. Jesus rose from the grave three days later, and now all who believe and trust in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. “Thomas” needed to see Jesus, but those who have the greater faith have not seen Him but still believe. Do you?
Next time John shares how Jesus appears to His disciples again, 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".
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