House of Hope Online

June 14, 2026

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There is a familiar and interesting passage in the Gospel According to John in the immediate aftermath of the Resurrection of Jesus.  Jesus appeared to His disciples, and showed them His pierced hands and side, and He breathed the Holy Spirit into them.  But Thomas was not with them.

John 20:

 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

 25 The other disciples therefore were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (NASB)

Thomas became known as “Doubting Thomas” due to his reluctance to accept the witness of his fellow disciples.  The name “Didymus” in the Greek means “double” or “twin.”  The Bible does not make clear whether Thomas actually was a twin, or if this was a nickname ascribed to him due to his resemblance to another.  Could you imagine being the actual twin of Thomas?  You could be the most devout believer in Jesus, but people would confuse you with Thomas and call you the doubting one.

I was reading this passage recently and in the notes from Dr. David Jeremiah, I learned that Thomas went on to preach the Gospel and plant a church in India, where he was martyred.  Not bad for a guy known as a doubter!

Thomas did not stay a doubter for long.

Be Not Unbelieving

John 20:

 26 ¶ And after eight days again His disciples were inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst, and said, “Peace [be] with you.”

 27 Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.”

 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

I love this passage because it shows an important characteristic of Jesus when he encountered someone struggling with faith.  Thomas was a disciple who chose not to accept the word of the other disciples.  He needed to see Jesus for himself.  He needed a personal encounter with our Lord and Savior.

And Jesus accommodated Him, just as He accommodates us today when we struggle with our faith.  Jesus met Thomas right where he was and proved His Resurrection.  Jesus told Thomas: “…be not unbelieving, but believing.”

Jesus loved Thomas that much, and He loves us that much.  He stands ready to help us in our faith walk.  If you are struggling with something, ask the Lord to show you His hands and side.

Believing Leads to Life

After ministering to Thomas, Jesus gave him an important word.

John 20:

 29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed [are] they who did not see, and [yet] believed.”

Some consider that word chastisement, but he was teaching Thomas an important truth. 

Jesus was about to ascend to Heaven, and faith in the Messiah was going to have to be spread to those who have not seen Jesus physically.  Jesus was acknowledging it was going to take a higher level of faith to believe.  People like us were going to have to believe the testimony of the apostles.

But notice that Jesus said “blessed” are they who did not see and yet believed.  Those of us who receive the Word of God, and believe every word written in the Bible, are blessed.  Last week, we said God considers us a “peculiar” people, meaning that we are unique, distinctive, and special because we humbly rely on Him.

Therefore, the importance of the written (logos) word cannot be overstated.  In fact, John closes Chapter 20 by saying the Book was written that those who have not seen would believe.

John 20:

 30 Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

 31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

I like the end of verse 31: “…and that believing you may have life in His name.”  It is by believing that you have eternal life.

A Personal Relationship

What touches me about Thomas’ story is that it underscores the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus.  Our faith must be grounded in a personal experience with the One who hung on a cross.  We cannot believe because someone is telling us to.

I am reminded of my own coming to know the Lord.  My wife Nancy had been witnessing to me but, like Thomas, I was not receiving someone else’s testimony.  In fact, the Lord spoke into Nancy’s spirit and told her to get out of His way so He could minister to me.  Just as He did with Thomas, Jesus met me right where I was.  He gave me a specific answer to a problem I was having in my professional life.  He proved to me that the Holy Spirit could guide me and give me direction even in the business world.  In short, He showed me His pierced hands and His pierced side.  Once He did that, my faith was established.  He proved Himself to me, and He has continued to prove His love ever since.

Be a Patient Witness

The lesson for us from Thomas’ experience is that as we witness to unbelievers today, we must understand that our word of testimony, while important, does not get people saved.  What gets them saved is a personal relationship with Jesus.  Our testimony needs to be accompanied with prayer that the Holy Spirit will minister to their unbelief, just as Jesus did for Thomas.

In the last few weeks, we have been discussing the coming apostasy, when the truth of God’s word will be challenged by those who are perishing.  John wrote his account of the Gospel so that others may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing they would not perish but rather have life in His name.

The time is coming when the age of grace will be over.  Paul indicates in 2^nd Thessalonians 2 that by the Holy Spirit the Church will restrain the spirit of the antichrist until it is time for Jesus to come again.

2^nd Thessalonians 2:

 11 And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false,

 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

Our time to witness is short.  By the time the deluding influence is sent, we will have been raptured, and the Tribulation will begin to unfold.  It is important that we pray for those we encounter.  Pray that by the Holy Spirit they will see and believe the truth of God’s word.  Pray as Elisha did for his servant:

2^nd Kings 6:

17: “…O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see…”

Let us pray.

Father God, thank You that Jesus meets us where we are and helps our unbelief.  We pray for unbelievers, and even for believers who struggle, that their eyes may be opened to the truth of the Gospel.  Jesus said, if we abide in the Word, the truth will set us free.  We pray that those we encounter will see Jesus’ pierced hands and side and say to Him: “My Lord and My God!” as Thomas did.  We ask for the words of testimony to witness, and for the patience to pray for the Holy Spirit to move.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.

If anyone has not yet received the Lord Jesus Christ in their heart, and desires to do so, please repeat this prayer after me:

Father God, I repent of my sin and ask for forgiveness today.  I confess and declare with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with all my heart that You raised Him from the dead for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus, please come into my heart and change me.  Send the Holy Spirit to guide and direct me in wisdom and to enable me to overcome temptation from this day forth.  Thank You for my salvation.  I look forward to the day of the Rapture when I can be with You forever.  Amen.