Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
After Jesus rose from the dead, one of his closest followers — a man named Thomas — had missed the first time Jesus appeared to the other disciples and refused to believe unless he could physically touch Jesus's wounds. Jesus had been crucified, with iron nails driven through his hands and a spear thrust into his side. When Jesus appeared again, he went directly to Thomas and invited him to do exactly what Thomas said he needed — touch the wounds himself. This was not a scolding; it was a personal, tender meeting. Jesus met Thomas's specific doubt with specific evidence.
Lord, I confess there are things I'm not sure I believe. Like Thomas, I sometimes need to touch the wound before I'll trust the miracle. Meet me in my doubt — not to shame me, but to show me your hands. Amen.
Something striking happens in this moment — Jesus still had scars. The resurrection didn't erase the wounds; it redeemed them. When Thomas demanded proof, he essentially said: "Show me the broken places." And Jesus said yes. Most of us have been taught that doubt is the opposite of faith, something to be ashamed of and pushed down quickly. But here is the risen Christ, holding out scarred hands and saying, *touch this*. He doesn't flinch. He doesn't lecture. He makes the wound the evidence. What are you refusing to believe until you see it differently? Doubt in the dark feels like failure, but sometimes it's just honesty wearing the wrong label. Thomas didn't walk out the door when he couldn't believe — he stayed in the room. That staying matters more than you might think. You don't have to resolve every question before you take one step closer to him.
What do you think Thomas was actually feeling — not just thinking — when he said he wouldn't believe unless he touched the wounds himself?
Is there an area of your faith where you feel like Thomas right now, needing something specific before you can trust?
Why do you think Jesus kept his scars after the resurrection? What does that tell us about how God relates to suffering and brokenness?
How do you typically respond when someone close to you expresses doubt about faith — do you tend to reassure, challenge, or quietly pull back from them?
What is one specific doubt you've been suppressing that you could bring honestly to God this week, naming it out loud rather than pushing it down?
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Matthew 6:30
Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Matthew 17:17
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
1 John 1:1
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luke 24:39
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psalms 22:16
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
John 20:17
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
1 John 1:2
Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place it in My side. Do not be unbelieving, but [stop doubting and] believe."
AMP
Then 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.”
ESV
Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.'
NASB
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
NIV
Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
NKJV
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
NLT
Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe."
MSG