You Have a Place at Grace - 5/11/2025

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

Thomas refuses to believe his brothers’ testimony of the risen Christ. He wants concrete proof, a living body he can feel, a real visual for the eyes. On the one hand, this makes sense. Jesus had prophesied His resurrection, and Thomas wants evidence. Why would he give up the world for a lie? He’s doubting, thus the moniker “doubting Thomas”; still, no disciple abandons everything for a cause he knows is untrue. Jesus’ words “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” are a gentle rebuke for Thomas and us who make demands on God when the Word is sufficient.  Christ is merciful to give Thomas what He seeks and prompts that great confession “my Lord and my God!” Thomas sees, believes, and goes on to exercise Jesus’ charge to forgive and retain sins (John 20:22-23) in a firm faith only God can give.

It’s not hard to find people denying God claiming lack of proof. But how many stories are in the Bible recording miraculous events only for the people to continue in unbelief? The Israelites crossed the Red Sea in miraculous fashion only to grumble about a lack of food. Jesus healed on the Sabbath before enemies seeking His death. Miracles, we find, don’t always result in faith and a proper understanding of Jesus. The devil who masquerades as an angel of light would love to have us turn to something other than the Word, telling us we need proof before faith by the Word. But the Scriptures are clear to teach us the power of the Holy Word and its sufficiency therefore to create faith that believes and thus one is blessed without the eyes, without reason’s confirmation of God via the senses.

The disciples’ witness of the living Christ is foundational to the testimony today going forth echoing what Thomas and the others saw—the risen Christ Whose scars mean forgiveness and life. The Church still echoes this testimony and responds to Jesus in the words “My Lord and my God!” The Holy Spirit Who works still in His Word is good to create such faith before our risen Savior Who speaks “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

By Rev. Ryan J. Ogrodowicz, You Have a Place at Grace, May 11th, 2025

Rev. Ryan J. Ogrodowicz

Grace Lutheran Church - Brenham, Texas

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod