- Among the four gospels, the one by John was the last to be written, estimated to be between 90-110 AD. Note that the gospels were written for evangelization, and John's was written for Jewish Christians (i.e. those who converted from Judaism), as well as for those who were non-Jews (mainly, Ephesians) who converted to Christianity. You can imagine therefore that there were some skepticism encountered by the evangelist regarding the Resurrection of Jesus. The gospel writer was an eyewitness to Jesus' resurrection, but his audience were not.
- Thus, John emphasizes the significance of believing without seeing by juxtaposing the following passages:
John 20:8 - John arrives at the tomb and sees and believes.
John 20:20 - Jesus shows himself to the disciples and they see and believe.
John 20:27 - Jesus shows himself to Thomas, and he sees and believes.
Finally, Jesus says: "Blessed are those who have NOT seen and have believed." (John 20:29)
- Thomas' belief results to his declaration: "My Lord and my God." The word "lord" is translated from the original Hebrew word "Elohim" which is used to address Yahweh in the Old Testament. Until then, no one in the gospel of John uses this title for Jesus.
Of all the titles given to Jesus (Rabbi, Messiah, Prophet, King of Israel, Son of God, etc.), this is the most sublime because it uses the very language by which Israel addressed Yahweh.*
John emphasizes that our faith, yours and mine, are stronger than those of the disciples as we have come to believe through the power of the Spirit and the presence of Jesus through His Church.
Other Trivia:
- Note that there is no mention in the gospel that Thomas ACTUALLY touched Jesus -- he only saw, and then believed.
Source:
*Nil Guillemette, SJ, Hungry No More (Manila: St. Paul's Publications, 1989), p. 265
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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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