HOW MUCH PROOF DO WE NEED?
Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. John 20:25b.
In John's Gospel, only 8 miracles of Jesus are recorded. In John's estimation, this is sufficient testimony for followers to believe in Jesus as their Savior. "Therefore many other signs Jesus also did in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30-31). It is interesting that John does not think that succeeding generations need to see miracles performed as he did to believe. Contrast the scribes and Pharisees that kept asking for another sign even though Christ had already done hundreds of them (Matthew 12:38-40). John alone records the actual appearance of Jesus to Thomas who had missed the first appearance to the rest of the disciples. Thomas stubbornly refused the testimony of the remaining ten disciples who all together had seen the risen Christ. Eight days later when all eleven were gathered together, Jesus appeared to them and got right to it with Thomas. "Bring your finger here, and see My hands; and bring your hand here and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing" (John 20:27). Thomas was fully convinced and said to Jesus this confession ... "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Then Jesus commented on future believers who would not get to see Jesus resurrected as the eleven did ..."Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are those who did not see and yet believed" (John 20:29). Yes my friends, we have everything we need to place our faith confidently in Jesus as our Savior. Twenty three years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul writes to the Romans..."that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Russ Simpson