I WILL NOT BELIEVE….. UNTIL…..
Following Jesus From the Edges
Pastor Calvin Cook
Scripture: John 20:24–29
There’s something about this part of the story stops me ! That it feels very real and relational to today and where we and who we are as believers and followers of Jesus.
Lets step back over 2000 years. Same situations: struggling economy, division, political override, oppression, war, tyranny, confusion and every situation that was consuming minds and thoughts are some of the same situations that are consuming us today.
A carpenter from Nazareth shows up on the scene, a man who there was something very different about. Raising up a group of men and women to be his close circle. Those who were ready to change the world. Calling them disciples.
They learned from him, received powerful blessings from Him. Watched as crowds gathered to hear His words. Watched as he had healed the sick, raised the dead, and the most important helped them to learn and know that they had the power to resist evil and build an unstoppable movement.
These twelve men became the Disciples. The disciples had seen Him. Walked the road with Him. Endured the slander of some especially the religious. And now all that they had worked for and believed in. Gone! Dead! Buried! And now missing, gone!
But wait there was news. Mary had seen Him. Peter and John saw the empty tomb and while they shared in these stories Jesus appears, speaks to them brings Peace.
The room became a Holy place. Filled with testimony… with excitement… with something they couldn’t quite explain but knew was true.
And then there’s Thomas, not present, missing all the excitement.
I can almost hear the conversation…
“Hey Tom… you missed Him again.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah… we’re sure.”
And then Thomas says what a lot of us have probably thought at some point:
“I’m not believing this… not until I see it for myself.”
Whoa! Wait! Did Thomas just say what we heard. As I think on this morning and if I’m being honest, I’ve been in that same place a time or two or a thousand. I don’t think Thomas was trying to be difficult. I think he was saying what others even maybe what we think from time to time. I think Thomas and all of us were and are struggling. Struggling to trust again for whatever reason.
He had watched Jesus die.
He had seen everything fall apart.
And something inside him wasn’t ready to step back in and believe and trust to quickly. Because trusting again means surrendering again. And surrendering again means letting go of control.
So bold Thomas throws a wrench in the wheel. “I need to see.” Can you feel the air leave the room, hear the gasp, wonder what is going on in Thomas’s heart. I can, because I have been there.
And then… Jesus shows up.
Not with anger. Not with disappointment. But with presence.
“Thomas… come here.” I love that Jesus meets him right where he is. He doesn’t shame his doubt—He steps into it.
“So I guess you doubt?”
And Thomas… the one who needed proof… the one who said he wouldn’t believe…
Falls to his knees and says: “My Lord… and my God.”
And I can’t help but pause there. Because this isn’t just Thomas’ story. It’s ours.
There are moments in life where we hesitate. Moments where faith feels uncertain.
Moments where we say, “God, I need to see something… anything… because right now this is hard.”
And here’s the good news: Jesus still shows up.
Not always how we expect. Not always when we demand. But always in a way that meets us where we are.
So maybe the question isn’t just about Thomas. Maybe it’s about us. Are we willing to be honest about where we are? Are we willing to admit the doubt… the questions… the struggle?
And then… are we willing to trust when Jesus shows up? Because at some point, trust calls us to a decision. Not to have everything figured out. Not to have perfect faith. But to move from doubt… to declaration.
“My Lord… and my God.”
And maybe that’s where we need to get our acts together. Not by pretending. Not by forcing faith. But by choosing to trust that Jesus is still revealing Himself… even in the places where we struggle.
And as Jesus is showing up in your life today.
Will you Respond, Trust, and Follow ?
Thoughts from the Edges 
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