God’s Image Study • God of the Living—Christ as Lord of the Dead and the Living
Our previous post examined receiving eternal life while the body remains mortal. Now we turn to faith, recognition, and the sequence in which these unfold.
Do we trust what God has revealed, or do we require something visible before we will believe?
Thomas heard before he saw
When Jesus appeared to the disciples, Thomas was absent. They later told him they had seen the Lord, but Thomas made seeing the wounds and touching Jesus a condition of his belief.
John then specifies that after eight days, Jesus appeared again, with Thomas present. Jesus invited him to examine his hands and side. The account records the invitation and Thomas’s response without explicitly stating that he touched Jesus.
Jesus then says:
“Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed.”
— John 20:29, LSB, excerpt
The distinction matters. Thomas required sight before belief. Jesus blessed those whose belief did not depend upon seeing him.
John follows this encounter by explaining that the recorded signs were written so people would believe Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and have life in his name. Read John 20:24–31.
The timing belongs to the account
We should also retain the eight-day detail when examining the sequence.
Leviticus 9 provides a comparison. Its opening places the events on the eighth day. Instructions and offerings follow, with the announced expectation that YHWH (יהוה) will appear and His Glory will be revealed. Later, His Glory appears to the people, who see and respond. Read Leviticus 9:1–6, 22–24.
Placed alongside John’s account, this gives us a pattern to examine: an appointed time, an appearing, and a response to what becomes visible.
John does not explicitly identify Leviticus 9 as the explanation for his timing. We are comparing the passages, attending to their sequence and possible symbolic relationship.
This also helps us notice overlap. Thomas’s movement toward recognition occurs while the other disciples have already seen Jesus and are bearing witness to him. The same unfolding account includes people at different points of recognition.
We will carry this thread into our examination of Glory and the Sabbath.
Walking by faith
Paul writes:
“for we walk by faith, not by sight”
— 2 Corinthians 5:7, LSB
The surrounding passage connects directly with our study. Paul discusses mortal existence being overcome by life, God giving the Spirit as a pledge, and confidence while still living in the body.
Faith operates while the promised outcome remains awaited. The Spirit has been given, and believers continue walking toward what they do not yet see. Read 2 Corinthians 5:1–9.
Whose testimony are we believing?
First John identifies God’s testimony concerning His Son and speaks of the believer having the witness within. It then explains that God has given eternal life and that this life is in His Son. Read 1 John 5:6–13.
Believing without seeing therefore brings us back to the source of our confidence.
The same letter instructs us to test the spirits and distinguishes truth from error. An inward influence must be examined alongside the testimony God has supplied concerning Jesus Christ. Read 1 John 4:1–6.
Faith and discernment belong together. We can trust God without demanding a visible sign while carefully examining whether what we hear agrees with His word.
How does that faith shape our walk?
John connects love for God with love for His children and keeping His commandments. Read 1 John 5:1–3.
Our examination therefore becomes personal: Am I willing to believe and obey before the outcome becomes visible? Am I allowing God’s testimony to correct my expectations? Does my conduct reflect the life I profess to have received?
Threads to Follow
Glory and recognition: Preserve the sequence of preparation, appearing, seeing, and response for further comparison.
Sabbath and the eighth day: Examine the seven days and following assembly in Leviticus 23:33–39.
Life expressed through love: Follow the connection between passing from death into life and loving others in 1 John 3:14–18.
The books were opened…
🌿 By Maria Emilia
Comments
Post a Comment