Confession of Thomas

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Confession of Thomas

Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:27-29

Introduction:

Swami Vevakanada, an Indian sage of 19th century, in his book, wrote, seeing is believing, we believe through the pursue of our senses, seeing, touching, smelling. How do we know there is a fire? First thorough smelling, then we see smoke and then we scene heat or fire.

The resurrection of Jesus was also facing the same pursuing problems in the early Christians.

First, they went and saw the empty tomb. It led them so many questions.

Secondly, the women came and told them what they had seen at the empty tomb. Nevertheless, they didn’t believe, and Mary Magdalene came and told them that she had see Jesus and Jesus spoke to her. They really got mad on her and did not believe.

All Apostles did the same thing, doubting on the resurrection of Jesus, why we called now, Thomas, doubting Thomas, it is unfair.

Doubting of sin:

In this present age, many Christians and non-Christians have problems with resurrected Jesus and on His divine nature.

People still doubt even after 2000 years on Jesus, now they create new doubts about the Historical Jesus.

Because of our sinful nature, we always doubt about the creator and His works among us.

Satan is the source of doubts: Do you really think that Jesus is still alive? Do you rally believe that Jesus is God, or the Son of God?

As Satan did to Eve in the Garden of Eden.

However, Jesus’ beloved disciple John cleared the doubts in his book of Revelation. Revelation 1:4-8: He heard and saw Jesus as the King with eternal power.

Do we really believe what John is saying here?

The ten apostles told Thomas, that they have seen Jesus, but Thomas disbelieved them by saying, “unless I see in his hands the mark of the mails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” John 20:25

Here he comes to the logic of Swami Vivekanada or our human process of belief.

Believing of faith:

Finally when Thomas met Jesus, he humbled himself or ashamed himself and confessed this great faith: “My Lord and my God!” His faith came after seeing.

But Jesus said, “Dear Tom, now you believe after seeing Me? You are truly blessed if you would believe before seeing me.”

I think Thomas felt guilty that he lost some wonderful and additional blessings of Christ.

I also think we have received those blessings now through the words of Christ.

Because of us and for our additional blessings, Thomas was not there when Jesus appeared to the ten disciples at the evening of His resurrection day.

Early Church received many miracles from the apostles to believe in Jesus. Acts 5th Chapter. Even though they were persecuted by the authorities, the Holy Spirit worked with them to prove the resurrected power of Jesus through the apostles.

Shall we need those miracles now to believe in Jesus?

No, we have His sacraments to see His resurrected power with in us.

Our faith stands still on our belief in the Word and Sacraments.

Confessing of salvation:

It is amazing to us that St. Thomas immediately confessed and recognized that Jesus Christ was his “Lord and God.” I don’t think a Jew can do this.

Because the first commandment prohibited them to do this.

It was not only the problem of Jews but it was also problem of all early Jewish Christians. How can they make Jesus as Son of God or God?

Again, John solved this problem by saying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God.” “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..” John 1:1, 14.

Salvation comes through confessing Christ as our Lord and Savior who died for our sins and resurrected by the power of God for our justification.

Our salvation comes by confessing the Creator God as our Father.

Our salvation comes by confessing the Holy Spirit is our Helper to work God’s power in us.

Our salvation comes by confessing the Tri-Une God is the only God of the universe.

Thomas, Peter, John, Paul, all apostles, and the early church believed and confessed this faith and had the gift of salvation.

Conclusion:

Believe by seeing is the human nature. However, belief in Jesus but not seeing is our source of Salvation. Thomas and other apostles believed Jesus by seeing Him and touching Him and left the greater blessings to us to believe in Jesus but not have seen.

We received grater blessings by the Word and Sacraments in our worships. Amen.

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