175. The Second Appearance
24Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other apostles told him, “We have seen the Lord.”But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be upon you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Be not faithless, but believing.”a
28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29Jesus said to him, “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing.”
(Jn. 20:24–29)
a “Be not faithless, but believing.”—Consider the central role that faith played in Jesus’ personal religion, the gospel of the kingdom: Faith is the price we pay for admission into the kingdom. By faith we advance, make progress, in the kingdom. By faith we are justified, and gain eternal salvation. By faith we may be made whole. Jesus once said, “If you have faith . . . nothing will be impossible to you.” (Ch. 28; Mt. 17:20)
Jesus lived an ideal religious life. In his faith we may discover the ideal human faith, the greatest faith our world has ever known. Jesus’ faith grew to such heights of trust that it overcame all human fear and doubt. And as his followers we may learn from him, and make Jesus the “author and finisher of our faith.”
The human Jesus looked upon God as our loving Father in heaven. His God is the Father of all, and he loves each human personality with an infinite Fatherly affection. Jesus looked upon men as God’s children and his brethren in the flesh. He elevated the idea of God as a Father to a sublime faith experience with his teaching that every human personality is a child of this Father of love, a son of God.
Jesus trusted God as a small child trusts his earthly parent. His faith was childlike but never childish. He depended on God as a child depends upon his earthly parent. He was absolutely certain and secure in his trust in the Father’s guidance, overcare, and protection. Even in the face of apparent defeat and a cruel and unjust death, he was unmoved in his faith. Faith was his spiritual anchorage, ever keeping him secure throughout the many trials and tribulations of his life.
By faith Jesus bore the transcendent fruits of the spirit. By faith he lived secure in the presence of his heavenly Father. And by faith he achieved his one great purpose in life—the knowing and doing of the Father’s will. (continued on preceding page)
Jn. 20:25 other apostles told (Ch. 22, fn. a) / other disciples told (RSV)
Jn. 20:26 be upon you.” (KJV) / be with you.” (RSV)
Jn. 20:27 Be not faithless (KJV) / Do not be faithless (RSV)
Jn. 20:29 You have believed (NIV) / Have you believed (RSV) • who believe without seeing.” (Ber) / who have not seen yet believe.”(RSV) (191:5/2042–3)
