"Seeing is believing" is an old saying that has some merit. There are many things that are so difficult for us to believe, that we insist on proof. There are previous experiences and mental attitudes that make believing difficult. Past disappointments, a feeling of something undeserved, a mindset of doubt or fear or facing something that our experiences have shown is not possible are among the many factors that make it hard to believe what we cannot see or get hold of. We want more evidence especially when something is unlikely. The Bible tells of the fact that God had done unimaginable things in order for people to believe in Him, but for those people seeing was not believing. Miracle followed miracle when God took Israel out of Egypt. It frustrated God (not that God reacts as we do) that Israel would not believe after all the signs and wonders God had done, "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?" (Num. 14:11). Before that, when God was assigning an impossible task to Moses, he too was very reluctant to accept and simply to believe God would help him in speaking and acting (Ex. 3:3,11,12,20). Moses saw the wonder of the burning bush, but he also knew of the power of the Pharaoh and what an improbable task God was giving him. God showed Moses a few things like his rod turning into a serpent or his hand becoming leprous (Ex. Ex.4:2-9). Still Moses argued until God grew angry (Ex. 4:14). Seeing wasn't believing until some mind blockages were overcome.
There are many accounts in scripture of people receiving a sign or wonder to help them believe something that seemed impossible. Through Moses there were daily miracles for Israel such as manna from heaven, water for the large herds of animals and the giving of the Commandments at Sinai when the voice of God was heard. Later God did many wonders to help people believe. Gideon saw the fleece become dry or wet, Samson had unbelievable strength, God fought the enemies of Israel and blessed them even when it was not deserved. He did everything possible to help them believe in Him - nothing was left that God could have done (Isa. 5:4). Finally, God took His attention away from Israel in order to turn to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:11). God continued to do many things in order to help people believe. Zacharias was struck dumb for nine months until his wife Elizabeth gave birth to John (Luke 1:20). In little ways, God helped Mary and Elizabeth believe (Luke 1:44,45). Later when John the Baptist had a little trouble believing Jesus was the One they had been waiting for, Jesus pointed to the signs and wonders that could be seen in order to help his belief (Luke 7:19-23).
Jesus Christ had a three and a half year ministry in which He constantly provided signs and wonders that only God could to. There could be no doubt that He was divine as He forgave sin, healed people of every sickness, crippling handicaps and resurrected many dead back to life. Jesus continued to do more during the 40 days He remained among His followers as the resurrected Christ. John stated that the world could not contain enough books to describe His wonders one by one (John 21:25). What is truly astonishing is that in spite of being witness to Jesus doing many wonders like walking on stormy seas and having winds abate by simply speaking, and healing people, His followers still struggled with believing. We cannot imagine the countless number of signs and wonders the disciples saw and were part of, but the Bible describes enough to leave us amazed. We wonder how it was possible that the closest followers of Jesus still had trouble believing. Jesus knew that people would have trouble believing unless they saw signs. He stated: "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe" (John 4:48). This was the incident where a nobleman had asked Jesus to come to his home to heal his son and Jesus simply told him to go home because his son was healed. The nobleman left and when he knew the son had been healed the moment Jesus had spoken to him, he believed. We humans are alike in believing. It does not come easily and although our words may indicate a belief, our hearts may still harbour doubts. We say we will not believe it until we see with our own eyes. The Queen of Sheba stated this in her words about the fame of Solomon about the name of the Lord and the wisdom Solomon had been given until she actually came for herself and saw with her own eyes (I Kings 10:1-7).
Perhaps the most defining moment of belief for the disciples came when the risen Jesus Christ stood in their midst. It was difficult for all of them to believe and Jesus told them to touch Him so they could see He was flesh and bone (Luke 24:38-41). They still did not believe for that is a huge hill to climb. Thomas was not there, so he stated what we humans sometimes feel "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). Jesus came to Thomas and invited Thomas to touch him. Jesus said: "Do not be unbelieving, but believing" (v.27). Then Jesus made a statement that affects us all today. We were not there! We did not see the crucified and then risen Christ. We did not see Him pass through walls with the doors all locked, or vanish and appear at will. We have not seen the countless signs and wonders that were done to bolster the belief of His followers. Jesus said: "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Almost 2,000 years later, we are to believe because of the words that were written about the events so long ago (John 20:30,31). These words were written so that we may believe. Our faith and belief is based on the words of Scripture and not on wonders that we would like to see in our lives.
Paul expressed his love for the people of the church in Thessalonica because they believed the word of God that was preached by Paul and others (I Thess. 2:13). Paul explained that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1,6). We are to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Peter was among the disciples who at first were shocked at the resurrected Christ standing in their midst, but as his service to God's people continued, Peter met many who had not seen the living Christ. Peter marveled that even though they were being tested by trials and various troubles, "the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory" (I Pet. 1:7,8). Peter knew that he and the others had been given the responsibility to report accurately all that they saw which cemented their belief. It is much more difficult to believe based on the words of witnesses than to actually see for ourselves, but seeing for ourselves does not ensure a belief in Christ. God gave us help in believing when Paul recorded that over 500 people saw the risen Christ at one time (I Cor. 15:1-4). We may doubt a single individual sighting something unusual, but 500 at once is proof.
After the disciples believed, God opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. He told them they were witnesses to these things and they were to preach to all nations (Luke 24:45,47). Luke wrote about Lydia who was a woman in the city of Thyatira who worshipped God. "The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul" (Acts 16:14). We want to believe the words of hope and to live for eternity in the Kingdom of God. We want to be in Paradise and in a place where there is no death, no tears, no sorrow, nor crying (Rev. 21:4). God offers that to the world. Paul wrote: "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). There is a special blessing upon those who are called by God 2,000 years after the improbable and unbelievable actually happened. Seeing is easier, but believing from the words of the witnesses of so long ago is not quite as easy. On the other hand, we have no choice. God did not leave room for doubt in the words of Scripture. He went to great lengths to inspire them for us. Let us be wise and thankful for those who learned so deeply through seeing and were inspired to lay down their lives so that we might believe through their words. Blessed are they who believe, but have not seen. Our belief today honours Christ and provides a special blessing for believers, yet to come.