"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Did you know that Jesus was talking about you when He spoke these words to Thomas during one of His appearances to His disciples after His resurrection? Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples after His resurrection. Thomas declared that he would not believe in Christ's resurrection unless he saw the nail scars in Jesus' hands and the wound in His side. Christians today face a dilemma they have faced since Jesus made this statement to Thomas—that of living in that period in time after Christ’s first coming and before His second coming. Some theologians have called the age in which we live "between the times," meaning the period of time between Christ's first and second comings. While the first generation of Christians was closely connected to Christ’s first coming, all Christians since have had to address the ambiguity of the time between His first and second comings. Fortunately, according to Jesus, we "between the times" Christians are actually blessed because we have not seen Jesus face to face but have believed in Him. Although you do not now see Jesus in person, you know that you will see Him at His second coming; therefore, you have no disadvantage to Jesus' first century followers and are, actually, enriched in your love for Him, your faith in Him, and your joy received from Him: "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).
Sunday, November 28
Between the Times Faith - John 20:29
"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Did you know that Jesus was talking about you when He spoke these words to Thomas during one of His appearances to His disciples after His resurrection? Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples after His resurrection. Thomas declared that he would not believe in Christ's resurrection unless he saw the nail scars in Jesus' hands and the wound in His side. Christians today face a dilemma they have faced since Jesus made this statement to Thomas—that of living in that period in time after Christ’s first coming and before His second coming. Some theologians have called the age in which we live "between the times," meaning the period of time between Christ's first and second comings. While the first generation of Christians was closely connected to Christ’s first coming, all Christians since have had to address the ambiguity of the time between His first and second comings. Fortunately, according to Jesus, we "between the times" Christians are actually blessed because we have not seen Jesus face to face but have believed in Him. Although you do not now see Jesus in person, you know that you will see Him at His second coming; therefore, you have no disadvantage to Jesus' first century followers and are, actually, enriched in your love for Him, your faith in Him, and your joy received from Him: "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).
