Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Sight and faith
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
The way the cliché goes, seeing is believing. And the patron saint of this approach is the Apostle Thomas. Thomas was a very practical person and on the occasion of the resurrection, he demanded evidence before belief.
I always insist that Thomas gets a bad rap because at the core he was a very dedicated disciple who, like Peter, was prepared to die with Jesus, or at least he was prepared to say that.
When Jesus appeared set to walk into a death trap in Bethany for the sake of Lazarus His friend who had died, Thomas demonstrated loyalty and courage. “Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” John 11:16.
Later, in another conversation, Jesus was teaching His disciples about what was going to happen after He died and resurrected. He was pointing out that He would be going to prepare a place for the believers who would eventually join Him. Jesus after using imagery and metaphor said, “And where I go you know, and the way you know.” John 14:4. The very practical Thomas was not having any of that. Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” John 14:5.
It is not surprising therefore that once Thomas missed the appearance of the resurrected Jesus that his practical nature would demand some kind of evidence. He was prepared to go to Bethany and die with Jesus, but to him, that death would have been it. So now, Jesus was dead and that was it.
“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples, therefore, said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”” John 20:24,25. This, on the face of it, is very logical and practical stuff.
Jesus was going to confront this demand from Thomas and at the same time lay down the principles of faith that His resurrection really requires.
So, the frightened, nervous disciples assemble again. More than a week had passed, and the situation was unclear. Jesus’ body had disappeared from the tomb and the Roman military was still looking for it and the Jewish leaders were still investigating and naturally, the disciples were all suspects in some massive plot to steal the body from under Roman guard. That, by the way, would have taken a miracle.
While they were there together, with the room shut for safety and security, Jesus appears. The invisible realm again invades the visible realm. This manifestation of the invisible in the visible was accompanied by a body that was physical and that could be touched.
Then Jesus faced down Thomas and gave the biggest faith lesson that is the principle of our faith in Him today. “Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” John 20:27.
The resurrected Jesus is the object of our faith, and though He would from time to time manifest in the visible material realm, faith is required not sight.
In a few weeks, these same disciples would see the resurrected Jesus demonstrate the end of His time materially in the material world by ascending into heaven. They were going to have to leave there and preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus without a material visible Jesus. Thomas needed to learn that and we need to learn that.
Often, as we preach or otherwise share the Gospel, people who hear us ask for proof or evidence. Some Christians often feel trapped or cornered by this. But that is not necessary because what we are doing is calling people to faith. Faith requires a belief in the gospel preached and confessions made on that basis, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9.
The disciples of Jesus, Thomas included, and those who lived at the time He walked materially and visible in this realm were particularly privileged, they recognised that. Peter used this privilege and experience in making a case in one of his letters to Christians. He wrote, “we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16.
The Apostle John put it differently in his letter, he wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:1-3
In our key verse today, the Apostle Paul takes the argument further, Jesus is resurrected and soon we too will have different bodies when we are with Him. This we believe by faith, not by sight.
Think on these things:
- What has been the greatest challenge to your faith in an invisible God?
- Has your faith ever been shaken because there is nothing material to look upon or touch?
- In the toughest circumstances of your life do you have faith in Jesus?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would exercise more and more faith in God and His promises.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex
