Why Do Doubts Arise in Your Hearts?

It was the evening of the Resurrection. Appearances of Jesus were starting to give credence to the accounts of the women who had seen Him earlier that day. The disciples were gathering together in a secret room to avoid the Jewish authorities and to further discuss what was happening. Even now, they remained doubtful.

Throughout this mysterious day, Jesus appeared to Mary, the other women with her, Peter, and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Now at the end of the day, they all deliberated and wondered about what was happening.

Maybe the fact that Jesus was not with them that very moment caused them to doubt, even with what they saw and heard with their own senses. Maybe they were visions brought on by extreme mourning and desperation.

[blockquote class=”bold”]Jesus intended on abolishing their doubt.[/blockquote]

So He appeared in the room and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” This startled them, since they suspected they were seeing a ghost—not the risen Jesus. “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

With the four appearances, the exposition of Scripture, the empty tomb, and the fact that Jesus had told them about all that would take place, they remained in doubt. Sin has a way of doing this to us. It feeds on our perception and misguides our meditations until we convince ourselves that what we know is untrue. Certainly, this was the case with the disciples. But God was not pleased to leave them in their doubt. He rescued them once again.

Extending His hands and revealing His feet and side, Jesus proved to them that He was the One who was crucified, but now raised back to life—evidence that He is Lord. To make things even more evident, he sat and ate with them. Real food going into a real Jesus!

This was no ghost.

The night came to a close and the disciples rejoiced in their renewed hope in Christ—all except one. Thomas missed the appearance since he was not there when it happened. And the collective testimony of the disciples couldn’t convince him. He wanted to touch the wounds of Christ for himself.

For eight days, Thomas dwelled in his doubt. But His merciful Lord appeared to them yet again in the same room. He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

Thomas was convinced. “My Lord and my God!” he cried out. And Jesus taught them all a lesson on faith in God’s Word. He said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Salvation comes to those who believe the testimony of Scripture. They are blessed because God has granted them faith to believe. Do you believe what the Lord has said? Do you believe that Christ paid the death penalty for your sin and resurrected to prove His sufficient power to save you?

Believe. Do not remain in doubt.

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