Posted on: 3rd May 2022

Though we have not seen Him we love Him

Recently our house group were looking at John’s Gospel 20 verses 19 – 31. Jesus visits the hiding disciples twice; the second time he had Thomas especially in mind.

We thought that Thomas gets a bad press! What about the others - about us? There are several mentions of doubters in the references to encounters with Jesus in those 40 days. Jesus kindly does ‘special’ for Thomas – letting him see and touch. Then Jesus says “you’ve seen me, but blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”. He doesn’t say “blessed WILL BE”, he says “blessed ARE”.

John then writes that a lot more happened than is recorded. So, I think, as stories of Jesus resurrection were going around at that time, there were those who didn’t get the privilege of a visible Jesus encounter (“those who have not seen”) but were ‘seeing with their heart’ - believing, trusting, hoping, expectant – “blessed”.

Our minds then flipped to Peter’s first letter – full of references to Jesus’ cross and resurrection. In chapter 1 verse 8 he writes “though you have not seen him you love him; and, even though you do not see him now, you believe in him”. Please do read the chapter and onwards to look at what flows out through Peter’s letter. Is this really the same Peter that we read of in the Gospels and the book of Acts? What a tender and changed man he has become. He calls this “salvation”.

Peter’s words from Acts chapter 2 verse 21:

“Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps [footprints].”

The word “example” is from a Greek word which means ‘a pattern from which you take a tracing’; our lives picturing his character.

You may be aware of the Thy Kingdom Come annual prayer initiative from Ascension Day (May 26^th) to Pentecost Sunday (June 5^th). I note that the Archbishop of Canterbury’s reflections in the prayer journal available for that time are all based on 1 Peter. Maybe it’s a theme!

John Simkins

Otley Prayer Network