Unless I see....

John 20: 19 - 31

It is interesting to note how Jesus deals with Thomas. There is always a bit of a doubter in all of us, whether we admit it or not. Of course we are well trained not to show our doubts - so we suppress them and never get to a deep and honest relationship with the Lord. In fact, as I remember in the Gospels, those who came to Jesus were usually skeptics at first - yet people who asked questions and finally were willing to allow Jesus' message to sink in. I guess Thomas was being honest although we might see him as a bit arrogant, to 'demand' a physical proof. Nevertheless, Jesus was gracious to him, and certainly showed him the physical proof that he needed to carry on in faith.

I believe we have to remember that there are many today who are skeptics about faith, or maybe they have been put off by untactful evangelism. There are some who would not be able to believe without 'seeing', or having some experience that they can identify as 'proof' of the Lord's existence. Sure, we may be the blessed ones who believe without seeing, but it is helpful to know how to help these honest people who just find it hard to. I would ask them - if they desire it enough to pray - request the Lord for confirmation, in whatever way he wishes to grant to them. Our Risen Lord wants to be known, wants to share his joy of the risen life with us, much more than humans generally want to know him. Perhaps being faithful to the Resurrection means, apart from other things, that we might be witnesses that others may 'see' in our lives the living Lord.