As odd as it sounds, there are some who believing—don’t believe, that is to say—there are people who seem to believe but they do not have working faith. Demonstrated by the disciples who never showed any sign of “faith”. Think, if you believed your mother would be raised to life three days after she was laid to rest–where would you be on that third day? And there it is, that is not where the disciples were. They were all hiding and it was not just Thomas—who doubted, all the disciples—and John shows it—this is his point. Think back to almost every recorded event—you see people who believe Jesus but when push comes to shove—they fail miserably. No saving faith here, no deep faith, not the kind of faith that leads to action. Not the kind of faith that leads to all out war against sin. Again—it’s not just Thomas who showed disbelief—it was all the disciples. They all portray shallow faith. When the women come to the tomb they don’t say, Jesus isn’t here—He is risen! Let’s go find Him! No, they say who stole the body.
But when we think on the Lord’s reaction to their fear, their hiding, their shallow faith it is truly amazing what Jesus said. In John’s gospel (21:28) after Jesus shows Himself to Thomas, Thomas proclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” and Jesus didn’t say, great job Thomas, now you get it, now you believe, I am glad to see you now have faith—welcome to the group! Not at all for the Lord’s response is the opposite and very powerful—and that is what John stresses throughout his gospel. Thomas because you see you believe? No! “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
I think this could be the banner of John’s gospel. Again—this is the point—Jesus doesn’t want shallow faith. Jesus is saying—you should have already believed—not because you have seen Me—but because I told you—blessed are you who have not seen and you still believe
"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)
