April 23 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

John 20:26–29

Devotional

Christ gives a final benediction to conclude His ministry on earth. These words are actually an admonition given to the unbelieving Thomas. Thomas could not believe and yet he should have believed. Wherever faith is found, it will only be by grace alone, because faith is a gift of God. But where there is no faith, there guilt is present, because we do not trust God upon His Word.

Thomas could not believe. Try to tell such a person: “You have to believe and you must believe,” as people nowadays often do. It is precisely the true believer who finds out that he cannot give himself faith. And the one who has never known the struggles of doubt, has never believed.

No, the risen Christ did not appear to those who could believe easily. Even the women who came to the tomb of Jesus were looking for a dead Christ. The two men who traveled to Emmaus didn’t know anything anymore but were rather filled with questions and struggles within. And where was the faith of the other disciples? At the close of the day of Jesus’ resurrection, they were hiding behind locked doors because of fear for the Jews. There was not much of a testimony of faith for them either. Christ appeared to such people. What a blessing this is for the church of the Lord!

The fact that Christ appeared to Thomas does not mean that it was honorable for Thomas to have persisted in his unbelief. Be assured that Thomas was deeply ashamed of himself when the Lord spoke these words to him. His unbelief then became sin to him. Oh, how terrible and dishonoring it is to lack trust! How God-dishonoring it is! Let our prayer be: Lord, deliver me from unbelief and teach me to trust fully in Thee.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.