IS SEEING BELIEVING?
Matthew 28:16-17 NKJV
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
There is an old adage we have heard for years. “Seeing is believing.” Well, not exactly. First, that is not a Scripture, although some quote it like it’s straight from Jesus. Second, if you see it, you really shouldn’t have to believe it because it’s right there in front of you. This is why this passage is so unusual. Jesus was standing right in front of the disciples, and some doubted.
Typically, seeing the Lord was enough for most of the disciples. And for many, hearing from those who did see Him was enough to cause them to believe. This may have been why Thomas was highlighted in the Book of John. Remember, it was Thomas who was not with the other disciples when the resurrected Jesus showed up. The other disciples, men Thomas had lived with and shared life with for the past three and a half years, told him they had seen the Lord. But Thomas chose not to believe. Thomas chose to wait until he could touch Jesus and see the nail prints and the hole in Jesus’ side. In fact, until he could see and feel, Thomas said he would not believe. This was not a wise move by Thomas. When Jesus appeared to the disciples again, He called out Thomas. Jesus told Thomas to put his hands in the nail prints and in His side. Thomas, to his credit, adjusted and declared Jesus to be his Lord and God. But Jesus said that the blessed ones are the ones who believe without having to see.
The story of Thomas and our verses today tell us that believing is a choice. We can choose to believe or we can choose to not believe. Seeing and feeling will not always get the job done. This is why we proclaim the gospel; why we preach. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Faith doesn’t always come by seeing miracles and the supernatural. Our faith can be stirred by miracles, but we still need the solid foundation of God’s Word. When Jesus appeared to His disciples, they not only saw the miracle of His resurrection, but they had His word. Jesus had repeatedly told His disciples that He would be crucified and rise from the dead. So even if they could not believe their eyes, they could have believed His words.
APPLICATION
We want to get to the place that we do not have to see or feel to believe. We want to be like the Roman centurion who told Jesus, Speak the word only, and my servant will be healed. This man was the one who caused Jesus to be amazed. And Jesus said that He had not found faith like this in all of Israel. And this faith was from a man who was not Jewish.
So when we pray, we don’t ask for signs. We trust the Lord with all our heart, and we don’t lean on our own understanding. Neither do we lean on our feelings or what we see. We trust with our heart. And we turn the old adage around: Seeing is not believing but believing causes seeing.
PRAYER
Lord, I trust You and Your word. I don’t have to see or feel anything to believe You!