Seeing and Believing and Blessing
Those who lived in His day, and saw Him in the flesh, and trusted Him, were blessed; but we who cannot see Him, yet believe in Him, are the most blessed of them all.”
Seeing and Believing and Blessing
(Written by David Peterson)
Just 8 days after His resurrection Jesus appears to the disciples in the Upper Room. John 20:26 to 29 records the following: A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though 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; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus compassionately offered proof of His resurrection to Thomas. It was then that Thomas had an epiphany that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead and realized the full and complete nature of Jesus the Christ. Yes, Thomas saw and then believed! Jesus goes on to bless those who believe in Him without seeing.
Reverend Charles Haddon Spurgeon spoke about this special blessing by Jesus when he said; “That blessedness can be reached by all of us who believe in Christ. Those who lived in this world before Christ came, saw His day by faith, and they were blessed; those who lived in His day, and saw Him in the flesh, and trusted Him, were blessed; but we who cannot see Him, yet believe in Him, are the most blessed of them all.” Spurgeon reveals a significant truth in our Christian faith.
Henry Alford wrote the hymn “We Walk by Faith” in 1844. The first stanza follows;
We walk by faith, and not by sight;
No gracious words we hear
From Him who spoke as none ne'er spoke,
But we believe him near.
Alford relates that Jesus is always with us and our belief in Him is sight unseen.
Let us pray: O Lord, we rejoice in the blessed assurance that those who believe without seeing are held in a special place in Your heart. Help us to carry this blessed assurance into our daily lives, that we may be beacons of hope and witnesses of Your light to the world around us. Amen.
