Evidence

25 So the other disciples told 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 in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." 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!" (John 20:25-28)

"The door was locked", they said. "He stood right here", they said. "We saw the scars", they said. But it didn't matter what "they said", Thomas wanted - needed - to see for himself. At the end of the very eventful day when Jesus body was discovered missing from the tomb, and Jesus himself had appeared to Mary Magdalene telling her to share the news of his resurrection with the other disciples (who also needed to see for themselves), Jesus came into the locked room where the disciples had been hiding. But Thomas wasn't there. Though, he surely listened with rapt attention - soaking in every word - their testimonies only served to

ignite in him the desire for his own experience.

When Jesus returned again, a week later, to the locked room where the disciples had gathered (or had remained), Thomas was there. He saw and felt for himself the wounds Jesus bore, and Thomas responded with faith.

Is it any wonder that the evidence of the disciples fear turned to faith wasn't enough for Thomas - that their new-found joy and peace were not compelling enough? If we're honest, even if we were drawn to Jesus by someone else's evidence, it was our own experience that led us to faith. We pray that our transformed lives serve as the evidence that draws others to seek their own experience with the risen Christ.

1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- 2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us-- 3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1:1-5)