Eastertide #10:

A week later…

(John 20:26)

Our resurrected Lord lingers between Easter Morning and Ascension Thursday—forty days. I don’t think it was the kind of lingering that had Jesus wandering about, as if you might catch him on video. The resurrection appearances come from God’s side.

A week later, God decides it’s time for another appearance. It’s a gift to Thomas who missed out when Jesus appeared to the disciples. Thomas was out getting groceries or something. Jesus appears because Thomas remains unconvinced—“unbelieving.” Jesus knows how Thomas is. He likes Thomas. It is Thomas who dares to question Jesus at the Supper when Jesus said, “You know the way.” And Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know… how we can know the way?” Jesus never dismisses Thomas’ questions. He answers Thomas, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” We wouldn’t know if Thomas hadn’t asked.

For Thomas’ sake, Jesus appears: “Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe’” (Jn 20:27). Thomas ends up making the greatest of all confessions: “My Lord and my God!" That’s why we worship Jesus on Sunday Morning. He is God.

Our resurrected Lord ends his time with Thomas with a surprise blessing: “Do you believe Thomas because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (vs 29). That’s us.