In John 20:29 Jesus told Thomas:
“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
As Christians, each of us knows that we were not part of those
who walked and talked with Him for the 3.5 yrs of His earthly ministry.
We are part of the blessed ones “who have not seen and yet have believed.”
We met Jesus through the Word of God,
just like Jesus pointed this out we would in John 17:20-21
“My prayer is not for them alone.
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message”
But know this:
even though we haven’t “seen”
and even though our belief is “through their message”,
we receive a special blessing just like Jesus said we would in 20:29.
It is a blessing that the disciples did not receive,
that the 120 that gathered on Pentecost did not receive,
that Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James did not receive.
No one who had “seen” Jesus
could receive this special blessing that He supplies
to those “who have not seen and yet have believed.”
So hold tightly to the Jesus that you met in God’s Word.
And hold tightly to your Bible.
Not because of the leather covering or the fine pages or the lasting ink,
but because it is where you met Jesus and BELIEVED just like He said you would.
Prayer:
Thank You, LORD, for the special blessing
You have given each of us
who believe even though we have not seen.
We yearn for the day when we will be part of those who have seen,
the day when our eyes witness the Lamb/Lion in heaven.
Until that day, LORD,
wear us out in Your service
and grant us the honor to die in the harness. Amen.
Mike Sublett is a pastor at Hi-Land Christian Church, 1615 N. Banks St., Pampa, Texas 79065. Email him at pawdad@nts-online.net.
