Believing is Believing

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. -John 20:30-31 (NIV)

In today's suggested reading, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb and sees that the stone has been removed. She runs to Peter and "the other disciple, the one Jesus loves" (doesn't he love them all?). These two disciples run to the tomb. When the other disciple (tradition says it was John) enters the tomb, he believes...presumably after seeing the grave clothes in which Jesus was buried.

Mary needs a little more evidence in order to believe. She returns to the tomb and encounters the resurrected Christ whom she mistakes for the gardener. It's only after Jesus calls her by name that she realizes that it's him. Once she hears her name, she goes back to the other disciples and says, "I have seen the Lord."

The disciples (minus Thomas) need still more evidence to believe. They've been told by Mary that Jesus is alive but that knowledge hasn't alleviated their fears. They're in a room (likely where they shared the Last Supper together) and the door is locked because they're afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus comes and stands among them, showing them his wounded hands and side. Only then are the disciples overjoyed.

Thomas needs even more evidence to believe. He isn't there when Jesus first appears to the other disciples in the Upper Room. But just seeing the wounded hands and side of Jesus isn't enough for him; he wants to touch the wounds with his own hands. Only then does Thomas proclaim, "My Lord and My God."

Thankfully, not everyone has to see the empty tomb and the linen clothes, or encounter Jesus in a graveyard calling our name, or see his wounds, or even touch his wounds. Jesus says that there will be those who believe who have not seen these things. And Jesus says that they will be blessed.

I've always heard that "seeing is believing". But my understanding of this chapter is that "believing is believing". Some of us require more evidence than others, I guess, and Jesus doesn't seem to mind or be too terribly offended. In the end, Jesus just wants us to believe that he is the Messiah and that we can have life in his name.

May God grant you the grace to believe today.

If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are Jeremiah 45-47, Psalm 105, and John 21. Sunday's readings are Jeremiah 48-49, Psalm 67, and 1 John 1. I'll be back on Monday with a devotional from Jeremiah 21,24, 27, Psalm 118, and/or 1 John 2.