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“He is risen! He is risen, indeed!” - two statements upon which Christianity is based. Resurrection, from the Latin ‘resurgo’ means “I arise”. Without the resurrection, there is no faith. As you read this commentary, one of three things going on with you: (1) you are a non-believer and the resurrection is foolishness (2) you are a mature believer and the resurrection of Christ is the most significant event ever to impact your life or (3) you are a new believer or someone who is studying Christianity and you are a ‘doubting Thomas’! My friend, if you are in the (3) category, I say to you “it’s OK to doubt”. There is nothing wrong with being skeptical when we are seeking the truth! The Apostle Thomas walked with Jesus on a daily basis, saw the miracles and knew what Jesus taught however he still doubted all this could be true – and he was an eye witness to all these things!
To better understand the critical passages leading up to and after the resurrection, let’s look briefly at Thomas. I say ‘briefly’ because if you search the Scriptures we are not told a lot about him. There are two things we do know that seem to be diametrically opposed. First, Thomas did not believe the other disciples when they told him about Jesus because he wanted proof. But on the other hand, when Jesus’ life was in danger, Thomas said “Let’s go too and die with Jesus!” (John 11:12) He believed Jesus was who He said He was enough to die for Him however Thomas still doubted the truth about the resurrection even though Jesus had foretold these events. The two positions are difficult to understand.
Thomas was present when Jesus told the disciples of His upcoming death and resurrection. But Thomas and the others did not grasp the meaning. Thomas was one of the disciples in the garden who ran when Jesus was arrested! Thomas was seeing Jesus’ predictions unfolding before his very eyes but still doubted how these things could be true. And when Jesus’ trial, scourging, and crucifixion came to pass, Thomas still doubted even though he knew these things had been told to them by Jesus himself! Jesus had clearly told the disciples and the crowds that after three days He would be resurrected so that they would know that He was the Christ! When Mary went to the tomb, Jesus was not there! She met Him in the garden and when she told the disciples that she had seen the resurrected Jesus the morning of the third day, Thomas doubted! The first time that Jesus appeared to the disciples behind locked doors, Thomas was not there. But when the disciples told him what had happened, Thomas still did not believe!
The second time Jesus appeared to the disciples, Jesus confronted Thomas and when Thomas placed his hands in Jesus’ wounds, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” We are no different when we doubt and want proof. However, when we come to that point when we ask Jesus to come into our lives, He will. If we are sincere in our petition, we will immediately begin to see changes in our lives. The more we pray, study God’s Word, and make efforts to let others see Jesus through us, our doubts fade away and we too will say, “My Lord and my God.” Thomas learned that the resurrection was not hearsay. Thomas allowed Jesus to bring him to belief and out of the cloud of doubt! Jesus told the disciples that they were blessed because they had ‘seen’ but those who came later would also be blessed (that’s us!) because we would believe without seeing. How awesome is that! Jesus will lead you out of the cloud of doubt. If you doubt, talk with Believers about your issues. Rarely does doubt disappear when we do not pursue the truth. Doubt will remain doubt if it is left to resolve itself.
Do you meditate on how the resurrection could be true but the magnitude of it all overwhelms you? Do not be hard on yourself because of your doubt if you are seeking the truth! God needs no one to defend Him. He is God. He will wash your doubts away if you seek Him with your heart. All that is required of you is that you believe. It’s so simple many stumble over the truth and still never accept it. God’s Word is open to all and His promise that salvation through the resurrection of Jesus is still valid! In fact, Jesus used His last bit of time on earth to give us a commission to go and tell all the nations the Good News until He returns again! He is alive! He has risen! He has risen, indeed!
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
“He is risen! He is risen, indeed!” - two statements upon which Christianity is based. Resurrection, from the Latin ‘resurgo’ means “I arise”. Without the resurrection, there is no faith. As you read this commentary, one of three things going on with you: (1) you are a non-believer and the resurrection is foolishness (2) you are a mature believer and the resurrection of Christ is the most significant event ever to impact your life or (3) you are a new believer or someone who is studying Christianity and you are a ‘doubting Thomas’! My friend, if you are in the (3) category, I say to you “it’s OK to doubt”. There is nothing wrong with being skeptical when we are seeking the truth! The Apostle Thomas walked with Jesus on a daily basis, saw the miracles and knew what Jesus taught however he still doubted all this could be true – and he was an eye witness to all these things!
To better understand the critical passages leading up to and after the resurrection, let’s look briefly at Thomas. I say ‘briefly’ because if you search the Scriptures we are not told a lot about him. There are two things we do know that seem to be diametrically opposed. First, Thomas did not believe the other disciples when they told him about Jesus because he wanted proof. But on the other hand, when Jesus’ life was in danger, Thomas said “Let’s go too and die with Jesus!” (John 11:12) He believed Jesus was who He said He was enough to die for Him however Thomas still doubted the truth about the resurrection even though Jesus had foretold these events. The two positions are difficult to understand.
Thomas was present when Jesus told the disciples of His upcoming death and resurrection. But Thomas and the others did not grasp the meaning. Thomas was one of the disciples in the garden who ran when Jesus was arrested! Thomas was seeing Jesus’ predictions unfolding before his very eyes but still doubted how these things could be true. And when Jesus’ trial, scourging, and crucifixion came to pass, Thomas still doubted even though he knew these things had been told to them by Jesus himself! Jesus had clearly told the disciples and the crowds that after three days He would be resurrected so that they would know that He was the Christ! When Mary went to the tomb, Jesus was not there! She met Him in the garden and when she told the disciples that she had seen the resurrected Jesus the morning of the third day, Thomas doubted! The first time that Jesus appeared to the disciples behind locked doors, Thomas was not there. But when the disciples told him what had happened, Thomas still did not believe!
The second time Jesus appeared to the disciples, Jesus confronted Thomas and when Thomas placed his hands in Jesus’ wounds, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” We are no different when we doubt and want proof. However, when we come to that point when we ask Jesus to come into our lives, He will. If we are sincere in our petition, we will immediately begin to see changes in our lives. The more we pray, study God’s Word, and make efforts to let others see Jesus through us, our doubts fade away and we too will say, “My Lord and my God.” Thomas learned that the resurrection was not hearsay. Thomas allowed Jesus to bring him to belief and out of the cloud of doubt! Jesus told the disciples that they were blessed because they had ‘seen’ but those who came later would also be blessed (that’s us!) because we would believe without seeing. How awesome is that! Jesus will lead you out of the cloud of doubt. If you doubt, talk with Believers about your issues. Rarely does doubt disappear when we do not pursue the truth. Doubt will remain doubt if it is left to resolve itself.
Do you meditate on how the resurrection could be true but the magnitude of it all overwhelms you? Do not be hard on yourself because of your doubt if you are seeking the truth! God needs no one to defend Him. He is God. He will wash your doubts away if you seek Him with your heart. All that is required of you is that you believe. It’s so simple many stumble over the truth and still never accept it. God’s Word is open to all and His promise that salvation through the resurrection of Jesus is still valid! In fact, Jesus used His last bit of time on earth to give us a commission to go and tell all the nations the Good News until He returns again! He is alive! He has risen! He has risen, indeed!