Stop Doubting and Believe!

What a blessed day it was! Easter Sunday is such a time of celebration as we praise our Risen Savior! The whole weekend was a time to focus on the ultimate love of our Jesus as he suffered and died for us but then conquered death and the grave and rose again! It literally makes me want to shout! I love this special weekend and I think that most of us can say the same things.

Now that Easter Sunday has come to a close for this year, what do we do now? I was studying through scripture as all the disciples began to see Jesus after his resurrection; it says, “they were overjoyed” (John 20:20). As you read a little further and realize that Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared, you can almost hear the conversation as the disciples began telling Thomas what had happened. I have to chuckle a little as I can imagine Thomas’ response to the disciples telling him that Jesus was alive! There was probably some “NO WAY!” or “Ya’ll are crazy!” (by the use of ya’ll, I’m assuming Thomas was southern like me! Ha-ha!)

Of course, scripture records Thomas as saying in John 20:25

“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

No wonder he is nicknamed “Doubting Thomas”. He earned that nickname! Lol! Oh, but the best part is yet to come as a week later and the disciples were all hanging out at the house and Jesus comes through the door. Now, mind you, Jesus could have knocked on the door that was locked, but instead he came through the door…that was locked and looked at Thomas and said,

“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

 I love it!

Though Thomas had been with Jesus before his crucifixion just as the other disciples, and had listened to all that Jesus told him would happen, he still did not believe it. He wanted physical proof that it was Jesus before he believed. But as Jesus walked right through that locked door and stood before him he told Thomas “Stop doubting and believe.” Awesome!

Thomas no more doubted that it was Jesus, NO; instead he looked at Jesus and said, “My Lord and my God!” He knew it was his Lord! And as Jesus looked at this disciple, this friend that walked so closely with him, he said,

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

What struck me about all this, is if Thomas could doubt even after walking all that time with Jesus, knowing Jesus as he did, how many now still doubt Jesus? We have his Word, we know the whole story, and we know what happens at the end! We say, Yes! Jesus is alive! But how many times do we doubt his presence in our lives? How many times do we ask, “Where is he?” “Are you there, Lord?”

Well, my friend, Jesus is ALIVE! Jesus is here and active! He says right here in scripture that

 “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

It is time to put away doubts, get into God’s Word, and spend time talking and listening to your Savior! His love for us is so great! It is hard for me to fathom the vastness of his love for me, but I know that he stretched out his arms and died for me, rose again, and IS alive and active in my life! Hallelujah!

Easter Sunday is over but a new day is here and life to be lived for our Risen Savior! Celebrate this life that he sacrificed for! There is so much to do! Souls out there that don’t know, don’t believe that we can share the good news to! The time has come!

I pray that you all have an awesome week of celebrating and serving our Lord! And in the words of my Jesus…”STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE!”