In Sunday’s gospel we read about the disciple Thomas. Thomas has received a pretty raw deal from history! The phrase, doubting Thomas, has found its way into our everyday language and condemns Thomas as the one who wouldn’t take the word of his fellow disciples but wanted to see the Risen Lord himself. However, rather than remembering Thomas for his doubt, we should remember Thomas as the one who makes the extraordinary declaration of faith, ‘My Lord and my God!’ It is Thomas, alone amongst all those who recognise the greatness of Jesus across the four gospels, who acknowledges Jesus as not just the Messiah, but God.

When Thomas made his declaration of faith, Jesus said, ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy (or Blessed) are those who have not seen and yet believe.’ (v29) Because this gospel was written 60 years or so after the time of Jesus, there were indeed many who believed but had not ever seen him. The blessing is on all those who believe without the benefit of a physical encounter of Jesus. Whilst the gospel was written as an acknowledgement of those at the end of the 1st Century, it is also a blessing and encouragement for believers of today!