More Than Seeing
I’ve been looking at Christ’s post-resurrection activities in the gospels and in Acts. It seems fitting since we just celebrated Easter last Sunday. Most of us are familiar with “doubting” Thomas, who was unwilling to believe on someone else’s testimony (John 20:24-29). Thank You, Lord, for putting his story in the Bible because I am sure I would fall right in line with good ol’ Thomas!
Notice that Jesus has Thomas put his fingers in his wounds. A visual confirmation wasn’t enough for Thomas (cf.20:25). He had to feel the reality. One can be fooled with the eyes, but a physical touch is difficult to sneak by.
Thomas is a picture of today’s skeptical world. The world today is not looking for a visual confirmation of Jesus. They are lookng for a real and physical encounter with the living Jesus. They want to feel the wounds to know with certainty they aren’t being fooled by false hope. The illusion of hope is everywhere. The “Thomas-world” is right to want more in my view. But where do they get such physical evidence? Does Jesus need to meet every skeptic face-to-face and offer His wounds for inspection? No. A real encounter with Jesus will come from the experience of the Church in the life of the skeptic. The Church is the physical touch that the Thomas-world is looking for. I’ve said much about this in past posts that I need not say more here. I think the challenge for us today is giving the unbelieving, searching world more than just something to see. They want to experience the reality of Jesus. A touch of compassion validates many words and many pictures. How can you offer a phyiscal encounter of Jesus with the Thomas’ around you? I pray that those encounters might lead others to see just how real Jesus is –
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and My God!” (Jn. 20:28)
