John 20: God’s message to us

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.  (John 20:30-31)

Read the context here: John 20:24-31

I'm always moved by these verses at the end of John 20. Although on a supernatural level God speaks to us through every page of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:14), on a literary level we are but onlookers. The books of the Bible were written to specific audiences at specific times, and by listening in on these conversations we hear God speaking to us. However, this is one of the few times it's different: John himself as the writer of this Gospel account is addressing us - his readers down the ages.

I wonder whether he was to know how many people would read his account? I find it amazing to think of the story being passed down, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, through the ages and that the faith we have connects us with people who live thousands of years ago - they are our brothers and sisters.

Prior to making this editorial comment, John has just recounted the interactions between the risen Jesus and Thomas - who made it into our vernacular as doubting Thomas on account of this particular story.  Thomas was not with the disciples the first time he appeared to them in that locked room.  When they told him of the news, he declared: “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (20:25).

However, a week later, Thomas's doubt is transformed.  Jesus says to him: “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (20:27), to which Thomas declares: “My Lord and my God!” (20:28).

But what of Jesus's next comment? “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (20:29). Does Jesus suggest that Thomas is of lower faith because he did not believe blindly?  Thomas wanted to accept Jesus on his own terms.  If you show me this, Jesus, then I'll believe you.  That is not deep trust and faith.  But Jesus comes to him with grace and mercy, let's him see his resurrection body.  This stirs up the love and faith in his heart.  Jesus knows what we need.

But what of those who have not seen.  Human reasoning would say that our testimony is not valid, and that we could not know Jesus as the apostles did.  And yet Jesus calls us blessed.  This is not that we are of superior spiritual strength, but that God is with us too.  He comes to us with grace and mercy, speaking through his word in the Bible, and a whole church will be and has been built from those who have believed his word - passed down through the generations.  We share in the same faith as those who saw Jesus on that day.

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