On the evening of the first day of the week-the resurrection day, that day so great with victory—there had assembled secretly, and perhaps spontaneously, as drawn together by new bonds, a little company of men. They were the disciples of Jesus. Fear of the Jews had made them close the doors, for already diversity of religious interest began to separate the true from the false, and lead the faithful minority to seek shelter from persecution.
And as thus assembled in the quiet hours of the evening, their hearts were free to dwell on the marvelous event of the morning. The Lord was risen. He had been seen and heard. The very Jesus whom they had seen nailed to the tree, and whose side was pierced, was now actually in resurrection life.
Often had He told them that He was to die and be raised again the third day, yet never had they accredited His words. But now His death was a fact, for He had been buried, as they all could witness.
Sorrow filled their hearts, for they had lost everything. The whole scene was but a desolate waste to those whose very being was wrapped up in a living Christ.
But they hear of His having risen. The hearts lately burdened now flutter with hope. His words begin to take shape in their memories. The third day had come, and with it the report of His resurrection. Could it be true? Who is to decide?
Hence the little meeting within doors. What an interesting meeting! What line did their consultation take? We are not furnished with any particulars; but while engaged in wistful deliberation, and conversing together about Him, Jesus entered-stood in their midst-and said, "Peace be unto you." Calm and calming, peaceful and peace-giving, did the risen Lord place Himself amid His assembled disciples. How full of gracious majesty!
A few hours before, these very men had all forsaken Him and fled; yet now not a word of rebuke escapes His lips. He taunts them with no unfaithfulness; He upbraids them with no ignorance. He forsakes them not, but in their very midst He proclaims peace to them. Yes, peace as the result of the battle fought and the victory won; peace made by the blood of the cross; peace, with pardon to the believer and eternal honor to the Savior; peace, the fruit of the soul travail of the Son of God, and the abiding portion of all who are His. What a salvation for such a company! What a word to burst from the lips of the risen One, as He owns them as His brethren!
"And when He had so said, He showed unto them His hands and His side," tenderly to corroborate, by tangible tokens, the veracity of His words, and evidently to identify Himself to them by proofs unmistakable.
Once more He said, "Peace be unto you," and then He sent them as the Father had sent Him. Then He breathed upon them, and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." How rich an investiture!
Having peace, they were free to go now as His missioners in blest occupation with His interests and, further, possessed of His life in the power of the Holy Ghost. Such was the result of this first meeting of the disciples after the Lord's resurrection. How filled with fruit for all ages!
"But Thomas... called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came." How was that? Why was Thomas absent at such a moment? He had never expected that Jesus would preside there, else he would surely have been present. Was self-will at work? Had he heard the report of the morning, and discredited it? Was the news too good to be true? Was the resurrection of Jesus impossible?
Anyhow, Thomas was absent from this informal meeting of his fellow disciples, and he was the loser. He missed hearing those words of peace and of liberty. He missed seeing the hands and side. He missed that first sight of their Lord, as in grace He placed Himself in the midst of His brethren. Ah, how much we may lose through a little willful neglect! It is ofttimes ruinous to despise meetings of true hearts just because they are small. The Lord may select such as spheres of rich unfoldings of Himself in His Word.
Well, the disciples tell Thomas that they had seen the Lord. He refuses to believe them. A mere sight of Jesus would not suffice for him No, unless he could put his finger into the print of the nails, and thrust his hand into the side, he would not believe. So be it. The disciples had said all they could. It was outside their power to communicate faith to their unbelieving brother.
In such a case the help of man is vain. The perplexed and troubled soul must have to do personally, directly, and individually with God. "They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed." Psalm 34:55They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. (Psalm 34:5).
Thomas, though loud and willful, was sincere. He loved his Master, and would have died with Him in Judea at the occasion of His raising Lazarus. His unbelief was of the head, and not of the heart; and so after eight long days, the Lord, on the occasion of a similar assembly, bids Thomas to reach hither his finger, and behold His hand; to reach hither his hand, and thrust it into His side. He bids him gratify to the full his desire, and to find every satisfaction for his greatest difficulty—to discover indeed, in those unclosed wounds, those everlasting evidences of redeeming love, the complete dissolution of the doubts of unbelief. "Be not faithless, but believing."
"Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God."
Enough. Could patient grace or perfect love have done more? Impossible.
Oh, it is not that signs could not be given, or evidences produced! They are abundant. God could accomplish any external display. But if Thomas believed by seeing, they are more blessed who believe without seeing.
Israel will do the former by-and-by. We are called on to the more blessed part now. Yes, we are called on to believe apart from every evidence except the written Word of God. It suffices for God. Let it suffice for us.
"Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."