Dear Beloved in Christ,
In the quiet moments of reflection, I often find my thoughts wandering back to those bewildering and miraculous forty days—a time when the very foundation of our faith was solidified through the tangible presence of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. My name is Thomas, often remembered as "Doubting Thomas," a title that has marked my journey but does not encapsulate the profound transformation I experienced. I write to you now, a testament to the unfathomable grace and mercy of our Savior, hoping to offer encouragement and deepen your faith.
After Jesus' crucifixion, despair and confusion enveloped us. The hope we had placed in Him seemed shattered; our dreams of redemption, lost. But the dawn of His resurrection changed everything. Though I was not among the first to witness His resurrected form, the accounts of His appearances breathed a cautious hope into our weary spirits.
Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene, then to other women, and to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Each encounter, a beacon of hope reignited, and yet, when the news reached me, skepticism held my heart captive. I declared, "Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25).
Days passed, and then, in a moment forever etched in my soul, Jesus stood among us. To me, He offered a gentle invitation: "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe" (John 20:27). In that sacred encounter, my doubt was not met with rebuke but with an opportunity for faith. Overwhelmed by His grace, my heart exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28).
This encounter was but one of many during those forty days. Jesus appeared to us by the Sea of Galilee, where He reinstated Peter with love and patience, affirming His call with each tender, "Feed my sheep" (John 21:17). He appeared to over five hundred at once, offering undeniable proof of His resurrection and kindling a fire that would spread His message to the ends of the earth.
Perhaps the most pivotal moment came on a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus entrusted us with the Great Commission: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). In this command, we found our purpose and calling—not just for those present but for all who would come to believe through their message.
As He ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives, Jesus left us with a promise that He would be with us always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). This promise has been the anchor of my soul, a constant reminder that we are never forsaken, that the presence of Christ transcends the bounds of time and space.
Dear friends, as you walk your faith journey, may you find solace and strength in the reality of Jesus' resurrection and His unwavering presence. Let the accounts of those forty days be a testament to His victory over death and a foundation for your faith. Embrace your doubts, not as a sign of weakness but as a pathway to a deeper, more resilient faith. Remember, it was to a doubter like me that Jesus revealed the depth of His mercy, inviting me into a faith that sees beyond the visible.
May you, in every season of doubt and certainty, exclaim with conviction, "My Lord and my God!" And in doing so, may you discover the peace and joy that come from trusting in the risen King, who has overcome the world.
In His enduring grace,
Thomas, Apostle of Christ
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