First Sightings
“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29
On the first Easter evening, Jesus appeared to His apostles, but only 10 were present. Judas Iscariot had hanged himself, and Thomas was absent. When the other disciples told him about Jesus’ appearance, Thomas refused to believe it unless he saw Jesus with his own eyes and touched Him with his hands. Eight days later Jesus appeared to Thomas also, and said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Lots of things take a certain measure of faith. For example, more and more often in our day people are making purchases sight unseen. We read the online reviews, point and click, and the package arrives at our door. If there is a reliable return policy, there isn’t a great risk in buying something this way. But what about a major purchase? Is there anyone, for instance, who would buy a home without inspecting it in person first? Who would be that short sighted?
According to Jesus, your greatest commitment, involving the most trust, is one that you need to make sight unseen. That’s what faith is all about, the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) In this you are not foolish, but greatly blessed because of the power and grace of the One who offers you forgiveness and life eternal. It is God-given faith that recognizes the fulfillment of all His promises in the past, and is confident that He will make good on every promise for the future. Believers of all ages have found peace in the “certainty of things hoped for,” including Paul who wrote: “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12) We ask our Lord to continue to bless us with this confidence!
No longer Thomas then denied; He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
"Thou art my Lord and God," he cried: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Blessed are they that have not seen, And yet whose faith hath constant been,
In life eternal they shall reign: Alleluia!
The Lutheran Hymnal 208:7-8