Belief and Doubt
Photo of Go On Thomas, by Jack Baumgartner.
When it comes to your faith in the resurrected Jesus, do you believe? Do you always believe? Do you sometimes doubt?
Sometimes belief and doubt are so close to one another. Our doubts are answerable. We can go from disbelief to belief through the evidence of our faith.
Thomas, who often gets a bad reputation as someone who doubted, had his faith assured by Jesus. Thomas’ doubt was put at ease by Jesus allowing him to experience the evidence of his resurrection. Thomas moved from disbelief and doubt to belief.
Eight days after Jesus’ resurrection appearance to his disciples, “The disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he 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!’” (John 20:26-28, ESV).
Thomas desired evidence for his belief and Jesus gave it to him. We can also enjoy evidence of our faith. We do not need to be in a state of doubt when there is experienceable evidence for our faith.
Like Thomas, we need to move from disbelief to belief. Unlike Thomas, we cannot put our hands into the wounds of Jesus, but we can believe in what we see, and in what is unseen, and be blessed.
As Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:28, ESV).
May we move from disbelief and doubt to belief as we trust in the reality of our resurrected Jesus and are blessed by him.
A Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter: “Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Photo of Go On Thomas, by Jack Baumgartner.
