Believing the Unbelievable

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." – John 20:29

Have you ever had to just see something for yourself in order to believe it?  100 people could tell you that the sky is most certainly green, but unless you actually see for yourself that the sky is indeed green, there’s no way on earth you are going to believe them because it’s impossible for the sky to be anything but blue. 

For just a moment, put yourself in the shoes (okay…sandals) of the followers of Jesus during the time of His crucifixion, death, and burial.  Think for a moment about the wide range of emotions you would be feeling – grief and loss at the death of such a great Teacher, anger at those who had betrayed him, confusion that someone who claimed to be the Savior seemingly hadn’t saved anyone, among other emotions.  You’re sitting there wondering what to do next and all of a sudden someone runs into your house and tells you, “Jesus is risen from the dead!”  Would you take their word for it or would you have to see it to believe?

On the third day after Jesus’ death, a group of women traveled to his tomb to anoint his body.  When they arrived, they discovered that the tomb was open and that Jesus’ body was gone!  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them and said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee’” Matthew 28:5-7. 

Following the angel’s instructions to the letter, they rush back to Jesus’ disciples and tell them this miraculous news.  Luke 24:9-11, “When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.  It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.  But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.”  I’m sure those words seemed like nonsense to the disciples because they watched Jesus take his last breath and die on the cross.  Many were probably there when Jesus’ body was carried to and placed in the tomb.  To hear that Jesus’ body was gone and that an angel had stated that He had risen from the dead was just so far out of the realm of possibility that unless they saw for themselves, they weren’t going to believe an ounce of what these women were telling them.

Sure enough, a few of the disciples decided to see for themselves if what the women were saying was true.  “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first” John 20:3-4.  I’m sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were running…this was virtually unbelievable.  A casual stroll to the tomb wouldn’t cut it…the faster one got there, the faster one would see if this was true or not.  The disciples made it to the tomb and what do they discover?  Sure enough, the stone was rolled away from the door and the strips of cloth that had covered Jesus’ body were lying right where His body had been!

Now was it at this moment that the disciples believed Jesus had risen?  Well, not really.  The only one that truly believed was John, “Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They [the other disciples] still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead)” John 20:8-9. As for the others, what evidence had they really seen?  Really just pieces of cloth that any thief could have set up.  No angel greeted them when they walked in the tomb.  No note that said “Hey guys, I rose from the dead!  Sincerely, Jesus.”  Nothing.  There was seemingly no factual information to back up the women’s claims that Jesus had risen….until later that night.

For some of us it takes actual proof to believe something…it was no different for Jesus’ disciples.  That same night, they got their actual proof.  Locked away in a house, confused and afraid that people would think it was they that stole His body, the disciples had an unexpected visitor that didn’t come through any window or door.  “Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord” John 20:19-20. Okay so this had to be a moment where everyone’s mouths fell squarely on the floor.  I mean, can’t you just see this in your head?!  This was Jesus…beyond a shadow of a doubt.  It couldn’t be an imposter and it couldn’t be his long-lost twin…why?  Because He showed them the piercings in His hands and side…the same piercings they had watched Him receive on the cross.  Everything was true!  They believed! ….well, all except for one.

Good ‘ole Thomas…he didn’t make it to this particular Sunday night meeting (guess He thought He could watch it on live streaming….joking, jokin!! Ha ha!).  Anyway, when the disciples told him what had happened, he said, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side” John 20:25.  Another doubter…another “I have to see it to believe it” person.  Several days later, when they were all together again, Thomas got his proof.  “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’” John 20:26-27.  The look on Thomas’ face at that exact moment had to be one of surprise and also embarrassment.  Surprise because truly Jesus was risen!  Embarrassment because he was wrong, the others were right, and Jesus had just called him out in front of everyone.  But what Jesus says next to him is one of the most poignant statements of this whole evening.  Jesus says, “You believe because you have seen me.  Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” John 20:29.

This Easter season remember, fellow Christians, that you have been blessed by Jesus Himself.  How?  Because you believe He rose from the dead, but didn’t need to see Him to form that belief.  Maybe there are some of you, though, like Thomas who need to “see it to believe it.”  All I can tell you is why I believe what I believe and pray you will see how this is all the proof and evidence needed to believe the unbelievable.  For me personally, I believe because the inspired, infallible Word of God tells me so.  I’m taking the Word’s word for it if that makes any sense! :)  John 20:31 says, “These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.”  I also believe because I’ve seen the Spirit of Jesus shine through the stories and experiences of other believers.  2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”  I mean who else could take someone whose life was falling apart and turn it into something beautiful?  Not a dead man, that’s for sure. 

JESUS IS ALIVE!  HE IS RISEN! And you know what?!  I don’t need to see it to believe it!