Stop Doubting And Believe

                                                   Stop doubting and believe - John 20:27.

                    Jesus told disciples about His death and resurrection and prepared their minds before His crucifixion. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” - Mark 10:32-34.

Disciples

                   The disciples did not believe when they heard that Jesus was alive and had been seen by Mary Magdalene. Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe - Mark 16:9-11.

                  The other disciples did not believe when two disciples told them that they saw the risen Lord. After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either - Mark 16:12,13. Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen - Mark 16:12-14.

Thomas

                   Thomas did not believe when the other disciples said that they have seen the Lord. Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “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 20:24,25.

                    Jesus chose another time to appear to Thomas. 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.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” - John 20:26-28

                       Let us also stop doubting and believe God's Word. 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. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water - John 7:38. I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst - John 6:35.

                                                                     

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us stop doubting and believe Your Word. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.