John 20:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

NIV: Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

NASB: Jesus *said to him, 'Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.'

CSB: Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

NLT: Then Jesus told him, 'You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.'

KJV: Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

NKJV: Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus' disciples were resistant to the idea that He had been resurrected. They had heard Him predict that event (John 2:19–22; Luke 18:33). They'd seem Him raise others from death (John 11:43–44). Eyewitnesses had seen Him alive (John 20:17–18; Luke 24:10–11; 23–24). Still, it wasn't until Jesus personally appeared to them that they accepted the truth (John 20:19–23). Thomas had been especially stubborn, but also came to believe once Jesus appeared to him (John 20:24–28).

The comment Jesus makes here points out that most people will never have the experiences which these men enjoyed. As the disciples go out to preach the gospel, they will be speaking to people who will not see Jesus in person. They will preach to those without the benefit of direct, personal encounters with God. That should be humbling—these men will never have cause to think they're somehow better, or more spiritual, than those to whom they preach. Jesus does not mean that it is better to believe without hard proof (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1; John 5:39–40). He simply notes that not everyone is blessed with the same level of evidence.

The same humility ought to apply for believing persons today. Though some of God's truth is obvious (Romans 1:18–20; Psalm 19:1), modern advances have given us resources far beyond those of prior generations. Evidence, texts, arguments, and examples which scholars of the past never saw are available to almost every person today. Before we pat ourselves on the back for belief, or our response to the gospel, we should remember statements like this from Christ. Those alive today have truly "seen" things which add weight to the truths God wants us to understand (Hebrews 12:1–2).

John's aside, in the next verses (John 20:30–31) follows from that same idea. That which God has given us ought to be enough (John 20:30–31) and was chosen for a reason (John 21:25).

John 20:24–29 is the source of an unfortunate nickname: "Doubting Thomas." Thomas was not present when Jesus came through a locked door and proved to the other disciples that He was alive. He makes an exaggerated demand for proof before he will believe, insisting on more evidence than is reasonable. Once again, Jesus passes through a physical barrier to appear. Thomas is reminded of his earlier stubbornness, but humbly confesses that Jesus is God.

Peter and John get a report from Mary Magdalene that Jesus' body is gone. They arrive to find an open grave, and empty grave clothes, along with a folded face cloth. When the two men leave, Mary remains and suddenly encounters a resurrected Jesus. Though she tells the others, they resist believing until they see Jesus in person. Thomas is especially stubborn, and Jesus remarks on how blessed they are to have been given so much proof. John points out that his writing is meant to prove that Jesus is the Messiah, arranged to encourage those who read to come to faith.

Most of Jesus' disciples scattered and hid when He was arrested (Matthew 26:56). Only John and some women were present to see His death and burial (John 19:26–30, 41–42; Matthew 27:60–61). When Jesus' tomb is seen empty, there is further confusion. Jesus appears to His followers, proving that He is alive, and remarking that they are blessed to have so much proof. John will complete his account in the next chapter with another encounter and more reminders about the nature of his writing.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.