by Joel Stephen Williams
A little girl asked her father: "Papa, do you love Jesus?" He responded: "How can I love someone I have never seen?" The girl thought for a moment or two, and then she asked: "Papa, how old was I when Mother died?" "Only six months," he replied. Then her words cut him deeply: "Then I can't say that I ever saw her, and I don't remember her at all. But you have always tried to make me love her by telling me how good and kind she was. And I do love her." Soon tears were flowing down his face, and he knew that out of the mouth of babes wisdom had been spoken.
When Jesus appeared to some of the apostles after his resurrection, Thomas was not present. Thomas was reluctant to believe even after hearing the testimony of the other apostles. He demanded proof: "Unless I see the marks of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe" (Jn. 20:25). A week later Jesus appeared to the disciples again, and Thomas was present this time. Jesus offered the proof Thomas desired: "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe" (Jn. 20:27). The answer of Thomas showed faith: "My Lord and my God!" (Jn. 20:28). But it is the response of Jesus on which we want to focus at the moment. Jesus said to Thomas: "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe" (Jn. 20:29).
We have not seen Jesus, yet we believe in him. We have not observed his mannerisms or looked on his face or heard his voice, but we love him. We can love him as much as a person we have known all of our life. Through the scriptures he can become as real to us as a mother or father, son or daughter, or brother or sister. We can come to know and admire his personality and the beauty of his character.
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