Breaking the Word

…Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"… (Jn 20,19-31)

Disciples would like to have had a personal experience of the risen Lord. Experiences of the others, however personal they might have been, were of no use. Thomas was no excuse to this. He also would like to have had a personal experience. Jesus obliged him.

But the message of Thomas is very strong. Because he said, ‘unless I see the mark of the nails…I will not believe’. Thomas did not say; unless I see the risen Lord in his glory or unless I see the lord with millions of angels around etc. He said that he would believe only if he saw the marks of the nails. For Thomas the belief in the resurrections comes from the sufferings and death of Jesus. Wounds are the signs of resurrection for Thomas.

Jesus also shows him the marks as sign of his identity. So, identity of Jesus is in his sufferings. Resurrection is the result of the sufferings. Sufferings play a major role in the belief of the resurrection. Sufferings only show who Jesus is.

Jesus also said, ‘blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.’ Jesus seems to imply that experiences and witnesses are given only to a few. Experiences are not even essential for a life of faith. What is important is the belief. Believing persons are blessed. “My Lord and My God” 

When he had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country. They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either. (But) later, as the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised.  He said to them, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. (Mk 16, 9-15)

This is a summary statement of what had taken place after the resurrection until the beginning of the ministry.

The summary statement gives the real situation among the disciples. The situation was that, the resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples individually and in groups. But the disciples did not believe the witnesses of the people who had seen the risen Lord. They did not believe in the witness of Mary Magdalene and the two disciples of Emmaus. Was it due to the disbelief among themselves on each other? Jesus also rebuked them for their disbelief and hardness of heart.

Probably the disciples wanted to have a personal experience for themselves. Each one wanted to witness the risen Lord personally. When he met them as a group he did not show them any signs of resurrection or any proof for resurrection. He should have done it because they did not believe the witnesses of the disciples who had seen him earlier.

The only proof or sign of resurrection that Jesus gives is the mission to be accomplished. The mission is to proclaim the gospel to all creatures. Fulfilling of the mission gives them the belief in the resurrection. Proclaiming the gospel is the belief in the resurrection.