Have you ever wondered why the glorified and resurrected body of Jesus still had holes in his hands and feet?  Why didn’t God heal them?  Let’s discover what this meant to the disciples, and how it can empower our lives!

To start, let’s consider how most Americans think how the word, “traitor” is synonymous with the name, “Benedict Arnold.” That’s because General Benedict Arnold defected from the American army to the British army in the revolutionary war in 1780 and his defection was so monumental that he is still considered one of the most despised Americans of all time.

In the same way, most people have heard the phrase “Doubting Thomas” even if they’ve never picked up a Bible.  This phrase was coined because of a pivotal event involving one of Jesus’ disciples named Thomas, who wasn’t with the other disciples when the risen Jesus first appeared to them.  

When they told Thomas they had seen the Lord he exclaimed, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-29).

Can we even imagine that incredible, history changing moment of faith?  I’ll bet Thomas fell before Jesus and wept while all the other disciples cried with him out of overwhelming joy.  Jesus is alive!  He’s alive and I’m forgiven!  My Lord and my God, he’s alive!

The holes in Jesus hands and feet verified and validated that the man standing before the disciples was in fact Jesus.  After all, just three days earlier, they had watched him be crucified.  They had watched as those nails were painfully pounded through Jesus’ flesh, and all their hopes in him were utterly destroyed with his death.

But now, Jesus was alive!  By seeing and touching the holes, all doubt was removed.  This was no dream.  No imagined hope.  No more questions.  Only certainty.  My Lord and my God!  What other response would even be possible?

No wonder the disciples gave their lives to the Risen Christ.  No wonder they were willing to live and die for him.  What else could possibly matter more than Jesus?  Where else and who else can we go to, to find eternal life?

Oh, Lord Jesus, thank you for living, dying and rising from the dead for me.  Help me believe in you, in what you did on the cross, and in what those holes represent.  You are my Lord and my God.  Thank you for being my Savior.  Help me give my life to you.