But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. (25) The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. (26) And after eight days again, his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. (27) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (28) And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (29) Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (30) And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. (31) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name.
We are not told the cause for which Thomas was absent at the first interview of Jesus with his Apostles, after he arose from the dead. But whatever cause it was, had not Christ's grace been greater than Thomas's deservings, never could he have been recovered from the daring unbelief, into which through temptation he had fallen. How rash his declaration in determining not to believe, except he had such evidences, as, humanly speaking, there seemed no probability to obtain! How gracious an act in Jesus to grant it! But how came Thomas to know that there were nails driven into the hands of Jesus, or that his side had been pierced? He was not present at the crucifixion; for he, in common with the rest, forsook Jesus and fled. And sometimes bodies were fastened with cords instead of nails, on the cross. But the truth was, that Thomas was for the time given up to unbelief, that the Church might thereby receive the more ample testimony, in his otherwise unaccountable obstinacy to the conviction of the truth of the resurrection of Jesus. Reader! do not overlook the precious instruction which this view of Thomas's incredulity gives to the whole Church of Christ. Thomas had been present at the resurrection of Lazarus. And such a demonstration of the power of Christ might have taught the Apostle that Christ was able to raise himself. But here Thomas lost all confidence. And what is any man unless supported by the power of God! Oh! what cause have we every day to cry out with the Apostles, Lord! increase our faith! Luke 17:5. But what a glorious confession did Thomas give, when Jesus in his boundless compassion had granted him his demand? Reader! do you not pray for grace to have the same, and not only to know Christ, both Lord and God, but to know him, and say as Thomas did, My Lord, and my God! Acts 2:36
It doth not appear that Jesus manifested himself to any but his disciples after he arose from the dead. Neither to them, but now and then, during the forty days in which he remained on earth. But what a gracious account the Evangelist gives, when he saith, that both his appearing, and the record of those appearances, were purposely for the confirmation of the faithful, that, in believing, his whole Church might have life through his name.