Seeing Is Believing. This phrase is well known to us all. It suggests skepticism; it implies that we will not accept the truth of something unless we can somehow see it. I guess it goes back to Thomas the apostle who said, ‘Unless I see I will not believe.’ For this, he has become forever known as ‘Doubting Thomas’. But is it true that seeing is believing? Have you ever learned of something so implausible you simply didn’t believe it? For example, snow in midsummer, or getting a good grade on a test you’re certain you failed. “Impossible,” you might utter. “Give me proof.” Or a positive report from a doctor,” that seems miraculous. When the Bible instructs us to walk with God by faith is that still a requirement for modern Christians?
Yes, seeing it for yourself is important but, if what we see is all that we believe is true, then we are left with huge amounts of things we cannot believe. For instance, I cannot see the air, but I breathe it every few seconds. Those who believe without seeing have already been granted a blessing. Jesus said to Thomas, ‘You believe because you have seen, blessed are they that believe who haven’t seen.’ In Psalm 27:13, when David was exhausted and near his limit, he said: “I would have lost heart had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” You see, believing helps us to see what is not visible to others. When you believe: You see the world through a different lens. You see it from the perspective of a son or daughter whose father created it all. (Sonship is a whole other teaching) You see that your life is in the hands of God and that he is a loving father who wants what is best for you. You can see past the veil of life’s circumstances. You see death, not as the ultimate and inevitable calamity the world sees, but rather as the entrance into eternal glory. While the phrase may express a concern for verification, it contradicts the various basics of religious practices (Christian faith?). We can live without seeing, as blind people do every day, but we cannot live completely, much less eternally without believing.
Who Is Doubting Thomas?
The story is found in (John 20: 24-29), just after Christ has risen from the dead and has appeared to the other ten disciples in a locked room (only Judas Iscariot, the betrayer who ultimately took his life, and Thomas were absent). The only thing we know about Thomas, other than his “twin” nickname, is that he was paired with Matthew the tax collector when Jesus sent them out in pairs to heal and drive out demons (Matthew 10:3) and that he was the sole disciple who seemed ready to sacrifice his life when Jesus wanted to go back to Judea to heal Lazarus (John 11). In that story, the other disciples questioned Jesus’s decision, reminding Him that the last time they were there the Jews had wanted to stone Him, but Jesus insisted. That’s when Thomas spoke up, telling the other disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16).
It is a statement considered both passionate and loyal, yet for some reason after Jesus’s death, Thomas was not among the other disciples when the resurrected Jesus first appeared to them, showing them His pierced hands and side, and imparting the Holy Spirit upon them with His breath. When Thomas learned about this encounter, we see why he was called “doubting Thomas.” The other disciples informed him they’d seen the Lord, but he didn’t believe 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.” A week passed, and the disciples again gathered in the house with the doors locked, and this time Thomas was with them. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the room with them. “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach outyour hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:27-28). Thomas had doubted that the others had seen the resurrected Jesus. But when he saw Jesus for himself and had a direct personal experience with the risen Lord, that’s when he accepted the resurrection as truth. Jesus then responded, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (v. 29). Jesus offered tremendous grace by showing Himself to Thomas in response to Thomas’s doubts. He knew Thomas wanted evidence, and He confronted this by providing exactly what Thomas sought. But it’s Jesus’s final words in this scene, noting the blessedness of those who believe without seeing, that is thought to be the greatest lesson of this story. It’s a statement about faith.
Very few people had the chance to see the resurrected Jesus. Today, we do not have that opportunity—so we believe. After all, we choose to have faith because we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and show us the truth. Jesus didn’t criticize Thomas for his doubt. His words in the original Greek—translate here as “stop doubting and believe”—are more of an exhortation to join in with the other disciples, rather than a condemnation. The whole encounter is a reminder of an earlier story in John 4 when Jesus was asked to heal an official’s son who was sick and close to death. “Unless you people see signs and wonders, Jesus told them, you will never believe” (John 4:48). So does the “seeing is believing” mindset still permeate your Christian walk, some things you can believe by faith, but other things not so much?
(Hebrews 11:6) And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Christians must realize that faith is the key to receiving all the blessings and promises of God. God wants Christians to operate in faith so He can freely bless us. What would prevent us from having faith? Why would we not trust God? I have heard many say, “I can believe Him for this, but I find it difficult to believe and trust for this!!” As if WE are setting the standards, limitations, or qualifications of our belief.
(Hebrews 11:1) Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of the things which we cannot see. This verse gives us a definition of what faith is straight from God’s mouth! The word “substance” in the KJV the Greek translation means confirmation or a title deed. A title deed is a legal document that constitutes your right to ownership of some property such as your house or car. This legal document proves that you are the owner of the property. Faith in your heart is a spiritual title deed that shows (that you possess a document) proving ownership of what you are believing for!
In one instance in Matthew 8:26, he uttered these words, “Ye of little faith.” I guess if I would want to hear anything from Jesus, that would probably not be that statement. It is easy to say we have faith, till a storm comes, till something we were believing for does not come to pass. So, if faith is key to pleasing God, what does the testing of our faith reveal? What does ye of little faith mean? Simply put it means that at this moment in time, your faith has been tested and you have come up short. Ouch! For all of us that is devastating to hear, yet Jesus said it. If we are honest with ourselves our thought process in those moments is something like “my situation, my trial, my shortcomings” are too big for God to overcome. We revert to carnal thinking, leaning on what we see or hear from the doctors, coworkers, friends, and other Christians, who many times validate our lack of faith. I will repeat this statement simply because I have sadly heard it so often “I can believe Him for this, but I find it difficult to believe and trust for this”!! When statements like this are made, it limits our faith to what we can understand, limiting possibilities again to logic, and all but eliminates God’s power.
Mark 6:5 And He could not do any miracles there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. When Mark says Jesus “could not” perform any mighty works there, he isn’t suggesting the Lord was incapacitated in some way, the “could not” is one of principle more than lack of power. Christ's choice to do nothing in this story embodies a bigger truth. In the face of that skepticism and outright hostility, Jesus chose not to do miracles. Remember these people were always asking him for a sign, so they were not operating in faith as they claimed, they were not genuine in their request, but looking more for a sideshow of miracles much like a carnival or circus. His lack of performance was a response to their disbelief. This reminds me of the play Peter Pan, there’s a moment where the audience must clap their hands if they believe in fairies so that Tinkerbell will live. Her very existence hinges on the volume of the applause. While it is true that Jesus is not a genie that performs for us, I do think it is fair to examine ourselves and ask the question. Do I have enough faith to believe that miracles happen? Do they exist in modern Christianity? Could such a thing happen to me? It’s a little jarring to read that Jesus was unable to perform any miracles that day, but does our lack of faith or unbelief produce that exact scenario in most American churches today?
Miles Sweeney the oversite pastor in the GMI/GCF network of churches was sharing a recent message and he made a statement that has stayed with me over the last couple of weeks. His statement was made in the context of all the miracles and miraculous things that he has seen over the world while traveling, teaching, and helping start-up churches in Ukraine, Georgia, and Africa. He said one of the most common questions asked about his travels is “why miracles there, but few miracles here in the United States?” He stated he feels the reason is that “Too many churches in America serve an ‘a non-powerful Jesus.” A Jesus that can be explained away, a Jesus that has been marginalized, a non-confrontational Jesus that lives only in the natural non-supernatural realm.” Sounds much like the Jesus that we read about, who visited his hometown on the Sabbath. He went into the synagogue and started teaching in a way that stunned his listeners. People were shocked that this man they had known since childhood dared to say the things he did as if he had the authority and credentials to do so. It was offensive, challenged their theology, and was outside the boundaries of their comprehension. After all, he was just the carpenter’s son that grew up in the neighborhood. And He was amazed at their lack of faith. (Mark 6:5–6)
A boy was brought to Jesus, but “when the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth” (Mark 9:20). After the boy’s father explained his son’s condition, he said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (verse 22). Jesus assured the man that “everything is possible for one who believes” (verse 23). Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (verse 24). Upon hearing the man’s request, Jesus immediately spoke to the unclean spirit and cast it out of the boy. The dominant theme in this passage is the contrast between faith and doubt. Jesus’ initial response to hearing of the boy’s condition expresses His disappointment in the lack of faith: The boy’s father initially seems to display his lack of faith. He asks Jesus to do something for the boy “if you can” (Mark 9:22). Jesus picks up on this doubt, and He responds by saying, "What do you mean IF I can?" He goes on to assure the man that anything is possible if he has faith. On at least two previous occasions, Jesus had linked healing to faith in Him—(Mark 5:34 - 36). The father wants to express faith, so he says, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (verse 24). In essence, he says, “If my faith is not enough, please help me to have enough.” Jesus is pleased with this response and heals the boy. What a teaching moment!!
All Christians can identify with this man from time to time. It is the acknowledgment of our inadequacy that allows God to work in our lives in the first place. We acknowledge that even our faith small or great comes from God. It is His work in our lives that enables us to believe and obey. Do I have enough faith to believe that miracles happen? Do they exist today? Even more personally, can such a thing happen to me? These questions are answered in direct proportion to the way that you see Jesus, and how the impartations of those beliefs operate in your daily life. If not, then maybe a reevaluation is in order.
Luke 7:1-10, tells us about the encounter with the Centurion and what happened: Jesus entered Capernaum, and a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So, when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick (Luke 7:1-10). Imagine! A faith that caused the Son of God to marvel! The centurion's faith was based on how he saw Jesus, and he knew that Jesus could just speak a word of authority into that situation, and it would be done. He had great faith from a distance and needed to see nothing more than just to believe.
What Do These Stories Teach Us about Facing Our Own Doubts, Unbelief?
Jesus knew that people by nature tend to be doubters, filled with unbelief. He knew that some needed to see miracles to accept what He was offering. We can also know that we are still loved and not condemned when we have doubts. He did not condemn Thomas, but He pointed Thomas to the truth. Growing in faith will happen over time. We don’t all grow at the same rate, some will grow faster than others but regardless of our small or great faith, it will happen over time. Hebrews 12:2 says Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; It is in His hands, both the beginning and the end.