The Commendation: Are You Existing or Living?

"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name"

(John 20:29-31).

            Let me ask you a question: Are you living or merely existing? When I ponder that question, I think of existing as being what most people do every day. They get up, they go to work, they come home, they eat dinner, they watch tv, then go to bed, only to do the same thing tomorrow. That’s not real living! Jesus said in John 10:10: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The difference is in the word abundantly. What a gift He offers to us! Bountiful, generous, plentiful, abundant life!

            In this series we’ve seen the story of Thomas and Jesus as they ultimately met in the Upper Room where Jesus made it clear that there is more to life than just existing. Jesus had much more for Thomas beyond the three years they had ministered together. But it would take faith on Thomas’s part.

            We began with the disciples hiding out of fear in the Upper Room from the authorities after the crucifixion, then we saw their first meeting with Jesus after His resurrection. Thomas missed out on this meeting and the comfort that Jesus offered those who had followed Him. The next time that Jesus came, Thomas was present. Jesus went right to him and asked him about the statement he had made eight days previously: Thomas had said he would not believe unless he touched Christ’s nail-pierced hands and placed his hand in His side that had been pierced by a Roman soldier’s spear. I can’t help but wonder what Thomas thought. Did someone tell Jesus what he had said? Did Jesus really have the power to hear what he had said without being present? Nevertheless, when given the opportunity to actually touch the wounds, Thomas’s immediate response was “My Lord and My God!”

            Now as we come to the end of this story, in verse 29, Jesus makes a profound statement: “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed.” In other words, you believe only because you see. That is not faith at all. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Anyone can believe what he sees with his own eyes. Yet, true faith is defined at the completion of that verse: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” And true faith does not go unrewarded. Those who believe without seeing are “blessed” with abundant life.  We didn’t see Christ in the Upper Room, nor did we see His hands and feet; and yet we have believed. Believed what?

            Verse 31 brings it all to a head: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” Acts 4:12 goes on to explain that it is through His name that we obtain salvation, which is eternal life. “ Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” When you believe in someone’s name for something, you believe that you can trust him for what he claims. Let me illustrate it this way. If I wrote you a check for $10,000, it would do you no good because I couldn’t back up what that check claimed. But that is not how it is with Christ. When He told the disciples in John 14:6 that He was “the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” it was undeniable truth.

            John 1:11-12 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” What a tragic waste of a life after Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice! “But as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” 

It’s through faith, believing on the name of Jesus, that we can have the abundant life that Christ so desires for us to experience! Don’t be satisfied with merely existing! Desire to live through Christ!