Seen

John 29:19-31
Jesus Appears to the Disciples

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A19-31&version=NRSVUE
 
Last week, the women at the tomb believed the resurrection when they remembered Jesus’ words. The angels told them to, “Remember how he told you” (Luke 24:6), and they finally understood his words. That night, Jesus appeared to his disciples who were still gathered in the Upper Room. The doors were locked out of fear, but Jesus appeared to them and showed them his hands and his side. They recognized it was Jesus by his wounds, and “then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (v.20). They believed the resurrection when they saw Jesus.

It seems as though they would have seen the person enter the room through a locked door, but it sounds as if they didn’t really recognize it was Jesus until they saw his wounds. That begs the question if the Risen Lord looked differently than before or were the disciples so distraught and fearful that they couldn’t believe their eyes. Did they blink several times or rub their eyes to make sure they were seeing what they thought they were seeing? Jesus confirmed they were truly seeing him by showing his wounds. I love that if the Risen Lord did look differently, he still carried the wounds of the world.

This scripture suggests to me that in order for a person to truly be seen by another, one has to reveal all of oneself including one’s wounds. And, in order for a person to truly see them, they must be willing to not turn away from the wounds. There’s no judgment or blame about how the person became wounded. There’s no guilt or shame if the person helped cause the wounds. There’s just love and an openness to see the person fully.

This works with Jesus too. When Jesus comes to us, he wants us to see him. He reveals to us all of himself. That could come through words of challenge or words of peace. That could come through a cup of water on a hot day or a smile from a stranger on your worst day. That could come with feeling a guilty conscience when we need to confess our wrongdoing or that could come with a warm presence surrounding us when we feel lost and alone. Jesus wants us to see him – all of him – and we can if we remain open and not turn away from what Jesus wants us to see.

The phrase “seeing is believing” seems to apply in this scripture because Jesus knows if the disciples see him fully, they will believe the resurrection. Unfortunately, Thomas was not with them during this appearance. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord” (v.25). But Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe” (v.25). Thomas thought he needed to see AND feel Jesus for himself. He could not rely only on his eyes. He needed to touch Jesus’ wounds in order to believe.

When Jesus appeared to Thomas, Jesus offered to him what Thomas thought he needed. Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe” (v.27). Thomas thought he needed to see and feel Jesus in order to believe, but he just needed to be near Jesus. He needed to feel seen. When Jesus revealed that he knew what Thomas said and was willing to give it to him, Thomas felt seen by Jesus.  

Jesus pointed out, however, that Thomas believed because he had seen Jesus, but “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (29). Seeing with our eyes is only one way to believe and only a few saw Jesus after his resurrection. Many more believed because of their witness. None of us today have seen the physical Jesus, but we have seen the spirit of Jesus in many people. We have believed because we have seen people’s wounds and the healing power of Jesus. We have believed because we have revealed our wounds to another and felt seen by Jesus’ loving presence in them. Where have you seen the Lord? What has caused you to believe?

Reflection Questions
Where have you seen the Lord?
Have you ever seen Jesus or felt seen by Jesus?
What do you need to believe in the resurrection?
How do you draw near the Risen Christ?
 
Pray: Risen Lord, appear to us this day and show us your wounds. Help us to see you fully. Give us the courage to reveal all of ourselves to you.
 
Act: Listen lovingly and without judgment to someone who reveals a wound to you.  
 
*New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.