John 20:26-31
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
Our Sunday School students have a favorite song this year. I goes like this: I believe I do believe, truly I believe it, truly I believe it, truly I believe it (repeat). It’s clearly not scintillating dialog, but it is catchy. The verses go on to declare our belief in each member of the Trinity in turn.
When Martha stands in front of the tomb of her brother who has been dead four days, Jesus asks her, “do you believe this?”.
When my Confirmation students stand up in front of the congregation on Pentecost, I’m going to ask them to publicly affirm their faith – their belief in Jesus Christ.
Faith is believing without seeing. As members of the Body of Christ, we believe in what the Body has already seen and experienced – the death and Resurrection of Jesus. And then, through our witness to what we believe, others will come to know Jesus and believe in Him as well.
Lord Jesus: I don’t need to see you to believe that you are there. I believe because I love and trust those who have believed in you in every generation. AMEN