Blessed Are Those Who Have Not Seen and Believed

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

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The Gospel of John takes place right after Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene. He then appeared to the twelve apostles minus Thomas- who after seeing Jesus on the Cross, had a hands time believing the Risen Savior had returned from Heaven.

The Lord had not finished his work in Thomas and appeared again, this time, asking Thomas to place his fingers in his side. After Thomas recognizes the Lord as being right in front of him, the Lord reminds us that they are blessed who have faith without seeing.

The Lord also reminds us that His peace is with all of us. “Peace be with you” is such an important message as Jesus reminds us that he is with us always, and has over come death.

The Lord also reveals that he has been glorified in Heaven by the Heavenly Father, by fully being able to breathe the Holy Spirit unto all them. As this reveals that Jesus has the power to save, and to breathe eternal life through the Spirit of God. Something that could only be done by that whose name is glorified in Heaven.

The Lord reveals to us, through this passage , that He is Risen, and is always with us. He has the power to save, the power to breathe life, and His Peace will be revealed to those that believe.

In Jesus Name

(inspired with the angels)