Imagine Waiting Eight Days For The Lord Jesus To Appear - Part 2524

But Thomas, one of the twelve called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus first appeared. The other disciples therefore said unto him, "We have seen the Lord." (John 20:24-25)

Many of us have heard of Thomas in the scriptures -- also known as 'doubting Thomas.' The circumstances in John 20 is that the risen Jesus has appeared to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses and the mother of Zebbeddee's children, and Salome. Remember, they had come with spices to put on Jesus' body in the tomb. When the women arrived, the tomb had been rolled away. Jesus' resurrection occurred at the end of the sabbath -- on the first day of the week. (Matthew 28:1; John 20:1; Mark 15:40-41, 47; John 16:9; Luke 23:49; Matthew 27:55-5) Jesus was in the tomb for the same amount of time that Jonah was in the belly of the fish -- three days and three nights. (Matthew 12:39)

By now, Jesus has also appeared to His disciples, who were glad when they saw the Lord. (John 20:20) The disciples had been in a building with the doors shut -- for fear of the Jews -- when the risen Jesus came and stood in the midst. Jesus said unto them, "Peace, be unto you!" (John 20:19; John 14:27) Indeed, Jesus says, "Peace be unto you!" several times in the course of this meeting. He also saith unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." (John 20:22)

As an aside, Jesus said earlier that the Holy Ghost could not come whilst He was still clothed in flesh. But He said that when the Comforter is come, whom He will send unto them from the Father -- the Spirit of truth  -- which proceeds from the Father, "He shall testify of Me, and ye also shall bear witness because ye have been with Me from the beginning." (John 15:26-27; John 14:26) But I digress somewhat.

Nevertheless, in enters Thomas, and the disciples tell him that they have seen the Lord. Imagine what Thomas could be thinking at this point. That he missed seeing the Lord? That's certainly a possibility. But in this case, what he was thinking on the inside came out. As we learn from this account in the scriptures, Thomas said to the disciples, "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 20:25)

An interesting statement -- given that Thomas was one of Jesus' disciples. I can only imagine what he was thinking. Not just in that particular moment but as we can see from the scriptures, in the eight long days he had to consider what he said -- before Jesus would appear again. During that time, Thomas must have wondered how the Lord received his words -- that he did not believe that Jesus has risen until he could put his own finger into the print of His nails, and his own hand in His side.

Consider too how Jesus' disciples would have received his comment? We can all think of groups of people and their reaction when a comment like this  -- "except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails ... I will not believe." In some cases, there would be a loud gasp. Although not stated here, that could have been a reality as well.

Remember, Thomas was one of the twelve disciples. Thomas had walked with Jesus, witnessed the many miracles, the signs and wonders, and watched people's lives around him transformed. Thomas had heard the life giving words of Jesus, listened as He shared  parables, watched Jesus throw the moneychangers out of the temple, and saw Jesus walking on the water.

But now, as we see, Thomas was adamant that he could not believe that Jesus appeared to the disciples until he had his own personal experience with the Lord. So again, for eight long days, Thomas and Jesus' disciples had time to consider Thomas' words. Watch what happens next!

Thankfully, after eight days when again His disciples were within (including Thomas this time) Jesus stood in the midst and said, "Peace be unto you!"

Then turning to Thomas, Jesus said, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side; and be not faithless but believing." (John 20:27)

Think about this for a moment. Jesus would have known what Thomas had said earlier to His disciples. He would have known the disciples' reaction and how they must have prayed. Indeed, Jesus would have searched Thomas heart ... and that he wouldn't believe --  and yet Jesus forgave Him and loved him anyway.

This is the kind of God we serve. A Lord God who loved us enough to willingly shed His precious blood on a cross for you and I, knowing that without the shedding of His precious, holy blood, there could be no plan of salvation for His people. No forgiveness for our sins. No grace when we make mistakes.

But what we are witnessing here with Thomas is the second chance Jesus gave Thomas ... that much needed second chance for Thomas to believe. "Be not faithless," saith the Lord to Thomas, "but believing."

The same Jesus that Thomas had journeyed with for years -- but now risen -- was asking Thomas to believe. What was Thomas response? Thomas now understood who the risen Jesus was - and as Thomas stated, "my Lord and my God!" (John 20:29; Isaiah 7:14; I Timothy 3:17; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:10-11)

And for this, Jesus said unto him, "Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

From another place -- "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [Him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the salvation of [your] souls, of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow." (I Peter 1:8-11)

It's safe to say that Thomas got to witness the glory that should follow ... after thrusting his hand into Jesus' side. And that very same message is being extended unto you and I this day. That is, be not faithless but believing. Take hold of the King of kings and Lord of lords in your life today -- the risen Jesus who loves you for who you are -- and does so beyond measure. He has a purpose for you. And He is willing to lead and guide you into His peace and joy and love.

Stand in the offering plate.