“Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
John 20:27
Eight days after His resurrection, Jesus returned to the Upper Room. Once again He revealed Himself to His disciples. This time He confronted Thomas with his lingering unbelief. Doubts about the resurrection of Jesus Christ forever tagged him with the unflattering title of, “Doubting Thomas.”
“After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ “ v. 26-27
The Risen Christ didn’t comfort unbelief in His disciples. He confronted it. The kingdom of God is established by the power of the resurrection. This power transforms doubt into belief through a personal encounter with the Person of Jesus Christ. The citizens of this kingdom are unified by a simple pledge of allegiance. “I believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ.”
The English language fails to clarify the difference between “believing and unbelieving.” The original language used to express these words, in John’s Gospel, provides more insight.
“Believing” is directly related to the same word used for “faith.” Believing is faith in action. Believing is an expression of a living, breathing, vital faith. Belief is not a matter of trusting in a system of beliefs. It is revealed by trusting in and relying upon the Person of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
When “believing and unbelieving” were read or heard by John’s First Century audience, they understood the difference. Make sure you do too.
An unbelieving person was faithless and untrustworthy.
A believing person was faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, and the discharge of official duties.
Based upon the evidence Jesus provided to him, Thomas was confronted with the choice between an unbelieving life and a believing life. True believers still are.
Believing leads to transformation. Erratic identification with The Body of Christ or an excellent education about the claims of Christ are not signs of belief. Believing reveals much more than mere mental assent to a person’s point of view or an intellectual awareness of a particular philosophy of life.
Public Service Announcement: The Sunday after Easter, the contemporary church will conduct church services again. Don’t set up extra chairs.
Many who flooded the church on Easter Sunday are already living in the desert of unbelief. Their identification with a system of belief one day a year did not transform them into believers every day of the year. This story is sad, but true.
Believers never get over The Resurrection. Eight days after Jesus rose from the grave, Thomas was still trapped in his own personal tomb of unbelief. Jesus revealed Himself to Thomas to set him free from his doubt. Jesus still does.
NOTE TO SELF: When you find yourself trapped by doubt, pray your way out of the tomb. Look to Jesus. Prayer releases the power of His resurrection to fuel your belief in Jesus, not a system. Never let the system overshadow The Savior. Focusing on the system magnifies the flaws of men in your eyes. Don’t put your trust in men determined to leave their handprints on the system. Prayer keeps your eyes pointed towards the nail-prints on the hands of Jesus. Prayer places your doubts in the system in the hands of Jesus, and builds your faith in Him. Believe more. Doubt less.
TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!