John 20:24-31 KJV 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Thomas is consider a doubter of faith. Many people doubt who Jesus was and is even today. I often refer to Christ as God, for those that believe he is only prophet, it is consider blasphyme. For Christians that believe that Christ is God or coequal to God the Father, the idea is no longer blasphemous. In fact the term equal or equivelent of God the Father is something some will never fully grasp. Jesus in chapter 10 of John verse 30 declare himself one with the Father. Father meaning God Jehovah. The Jews immediately wanted to stone him for blasphyme. Yet Jesus rebukes them with showing how the scripture says that they are gods. Note the little g here, symbolizing non equality with God. Now the term gods are often symbolic for the ideal of men of great power or strength, even business men, or even leaders of popularity. Moses was like a god, Elijah the prophet, King David, and so forth, yet these little gods were only human, no power of themselves but only of God working through them in their life. Jesus was declaring himself co equal to God in regards to power, and authority. The authority of Christ to do the works had to come from God. Better for these that believe not who He was to at least believe in the works so they could understand who He was as the Son of God, that he and His Father were one. Jesus in John 20 had visited the disciples for the first time, but Thomas had not been their to witness the visitation of Christ after his crucifixion and resurrection. Perhaps Thomas thought the disciples had seen a ghost or spirit. He had not come to terms yet who Jesus was or perhaps the crucifixion had given him doubts that need to be cleared. Thomas told his fellow disciples unless I see Jesus for myself and can put my hand in his scars, I will not believe. He needed evidence that was tangible. Evidence that Jesus was not just a spirit. Had not Thomas been apart of the crowd that seen demons cast out of people. Had not Thomas seen miracles at the hands of Jesus. Had not Thomas been present during many events, only to find himself doubting the possibility. Did he not see Lazarus rise again. Yet Thomas was not convinced until Jesus enter the room through a closed door. The point being Jesus could go through doors that were closed. Was Jesus spirit or real. Then Jesus tells Thomas to put his fingers in his hands and in his side. The hands being the place of the nails went through when they nailed Jesus to the cross and the side is where the sword had pierced Jesus. Jesus told him, "not to be faithless no more but to believe." Thomas said,"my Lord and my God." The evidence that Jesus was not just Spirit. Yet it would take physical evidence for Thomas. Jesus would tell them many would believe without this evidence and would be blessed for doing so. This portion of scripture was recorded as evidence to help the unbeliever as far as testimony of those that would come later to believe. Many seek evidence through history to see if the accounts in scripture are real to help their belief, but one record of Jesus appearance is only part of the belief. It is that one belief that saves the soul from hell. It is the belief that Jesus died for our sins and rose again to victory that says it all. Some might read and scoff and doubt the reality, but until you have your own experience through faith in Jesus, or see his power or intervention in your life, you might be like Thomas. Thomas faith was based on what he understood not on what he could not see. We all need that experience with Jesus to know his reality, yet he does not always reveal himself to us right away. Many believe without seeing Jesus, but when Christ does reveal himself to the believer through open and closed doors, through divine intervention in one's life, through answer prayer when all hope was gone, by that miracle. Then one knows the reality of Jesus for themselves. It takes faith, but even unbelievers receive miracles at the hands of Jesus so they might believe. How is God going to convince you who Christ is? The convincing will be by the Holy Spirit, to enable the heart and mind to belief. God knows your doubts and He is able to eliminate those doubts and even fears of faith. All you got to do is believe. Dear Heavenly Father change the heart of the unbelieve to belief even this hour, knowing your and your Son's ability and authority to do all we ask in your Son's name, in Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: John 10:30-38 KJV 30 I and my Father are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. 34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. http://www.turtle30cshell.com