Believing without seeing
1 Peter 1:8-9
The very same Peter who wrote 1 Peter is the same fisherman who saw Jesus resurrected. He was the second disciple to reach the tomb after Mary had announced worriedly that Jesus was not in the tomb and that the stone had been rolled out of place. When he entered the tomb, he saw that Jesus’ body wasn’t there (John 20:6-7).
John himself writes that when he went into the tomb and saw the grave clothes lying there, he believed that Jesus had been resurrected. Mary, after encountering the resurrected Jesus in person, exclaimed to the other disciples, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18)
Then Jesus appeared to the rest of the disciples, and John records, “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20)
Thomas missed the meeting with Jesus and, having not seen with his own eyes, declared, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25) But he too saw Jesus, and then he too believed, John tells us.
Jesus went on to say, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
I guess it is no surprise then that; “seeing is believing” is a proverbial saying that is so universally understood. And yet Jesus, when he was praying for his disciples and for you and I prayed for us who would believe in Him without seeing Him; “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” (John 17:20)
In his letter, Peter, one of the ones who believed because he saw Jesus, one who believed because he was an eyewitness of Jesus’ life, transfiguration, death, resurrection & ascension, wrote;
Peter knows how he, Mary, John, the other disciples and Thomas all needed to see Jesus resurrected in order to believe. And Peter would have remembered Jesus’ words to Thomas about the blessedness of those who would believe in Him without seeing Him.
Maybe Peter was there overhearing Jesus’ prayer recorded in John 17 and remembered while writing to these believers how Jesus had prayed for those who would believe in Him not because they saw Him but because Jesus’ disciples would share the good news, the message of Jesus with them…
Because he writes;
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9 in NLT)
I detect a hint of marvelling in Peter. Knowing himself, knowing what people are like having seen the wrestle Thomas had, and then thinking of how those who have not seen but have believed in Jesus without ever having seen Him.
Fellow believers, even though we have not seen the resurrected Jesus, we have believed, we have trusted the truths we have read about Him in His word, we have believed & we rejoice with joy that is inexpressible.
How did this happen? I believe it happened because Jesus prayed for us (John 17:20) and because we were foreknown & elected by God before the foundation of the world was laid because of His love (1 Peter 1:1-2 & Ephesians 1:4-5).
You have believed in Jesus without seeing – you are truly blessed. You are an answer to Jesus’ prayer to the Father; you and your faith in Jesus are an exception to the way most people in the world think, and you are blessed.
And, one day, all of us who have believed will see Jesus as He is in all his glory (John 17:24).
“Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!”
But until then, be encouraged; “though you have not seen Him, you love Him.” Love Jesus & trust in Him with all your heart, rejoice in Him, delight in Him with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory because the reward for this believing without seeing is the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:9).
Two words that matter 