The encounter between Jesus and Thomas, after the resurrection of the Lord, is a story that demonstrates the importance of faith in following the path of Christ.
Jesus had risen and according to the Gospel of John, the first person to take note of the fact was Mary Magdalene, one of the devotees of Master Jesus. Then the gospel tells us that the Lord also appeared to some disciples to whom Jesus offered his peace.
But then a disciple named Thomas, who had not been reunited with the other disciples, when he was notified about these facts by his brothers, he did not believe, and so he responded: "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe" John 20:25.
It is very likely that Tomas did not believe because the news seemed incredible or difficult to accept. But for this lack of faith, Jesus admonished Thomas, and so the gospel tells the story:
"A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ´Peace be with you!´
Then he said to Thomas, ´Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.´" John 20:26-27.
And so in the face of this disbelief, Jesus concluded with a spiritual beatitude: "Then Jesus told him, ´Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed´" John 20:29.
With this teaching, Jesus taught the disciples to live with the gift of faith, because according to Christian doctrine, the spiritual gift of eternal life is received by faith, that is, by faith we receive the contemplative life. In addition, faith as Our Lord Jesus taught it, is that inner strength and that security that we are going to be blessed from above by following the path of righteousness ("Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12) and mercy (compassion, gentleness, kindness). Jesus loves us, but it is the decision of each man to believe in him or not, like the disciple Thomas.
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