Thomas’ Story

John 20

Thomas had missed the incredible moment. On the first resurrection Sunday, when Jesus appeared to His disciples, Thomas wasn’t there. As soon as he returned, the others excitedly told him, “We have seen the Lord! He is alive!”

But Thomas was skeptical. He had seen Jesus’ lifeless body, and in his mind, there was no way someone could come back to life after such a brutal death. “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail marks in His hands and touch the wound in His side,” he declared.

A week passed. Then, the disciples gathered again, and this time Thomas was with them. Though the door was locked out of fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus suddenly appeared among them. “Peace be with you,” He said. He looked directly at Thomas and said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas was overwhelmed, a mixture of joy and guilt flooding his heart. “My Lord and my God!” he cried out.

Jesus replied, “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Do You Love Me?
John 21

After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples returned to Galilee. Peter, feeling restless and longing for the old days with Jesus, said, “I’m going fishing.” Some of the other disciples, including Thomas, joined him. But all night, they caught nothing.

At dawn, as they headed back to shore, they saw a man standing on the beach. He called out, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

“Throw your net on the right side of the boat,” He instructed. Something about the man’s voice made them obey. They cast the net, and it became so full of fish that they could hardly pull it in.

“It’s the Lord!” John shouted. Peter, hearing this, jumped into the water and swam to shore, leaving the others to follow in the boat, dragging the net full of fish behind them.

On the shore, Jesus had a fire going and was cooking breakfast. “Bring some of the fish you’ve caught,” He said. They counted the fish—153, a miraculous catch.

After breakfast, Jesus took Peter aside and asked him, “Do you love me, Peter?” Peter felt a pang of shame, remembering how he had denied Jesus three times. “Yes, Lord, you know I love you,” he answered quietly.

Jesus asked again, “Do you love me?” And then a third time, “Do you love me?” Each time, Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”

Finally, Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Take care of my people.” Peter realized Jesus had forgiven him fully, and he was given a new purpose to serve. From that moment, Peter knew he would no longer return to fishing—his true calling was now to serve the Lord.