The Ninth Beatitude

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

The Gospel of John 

October 11, 2024

The Ninth Beatitude

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me.

Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

John  20: 29

Sometimes we joke about Doubting Thomas; however, the episode with Thomas in John’s Gospel (John 20: 24-29) provides us with several insights for our journey to make the life in Christ our way of life.  First, Jesus came again to meet with the disciples so that he could confront Thomas’ doubt; not to admonish Thomas, but to meet Thomas’ need. I hope you will receive this insight as an invitation from Jesus to you. What doubts, what concerns, what issues of the Christian faith trouble you? Remembering that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), ask Jesus to come to you and give you his wisdom to help you grasp his truth.

Next, notice that Thomas’ confession of faith fully incorporates all that John’s Gospel has presented in Jesus the Messiah. When Jesus urges Thomas to make a leap of faith, Thomas responds, “My Lord and my God!”

Yes, and Amen, Jesus is our Lord, Jesus is God.

My Takeaway: Jesus responded to Thomas’ affirmation by pronouncing his blessing on you and me. Let us rejoice in this, the ninth Beatitude: “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” (John 20:29).

Sē’lah                                                                                         

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.