John 20: 19-31
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the
doors were locked in the room where the disciples were, for
fear of the Temple authorities.
Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with
you.” Having said this, the savior showed them the marks of
crucifixion.
The disciples were filled with joy when they saw Jesus, who
said to them again, “Peace be with you. As Abba God sent me,
so I’m sending you.”
After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the
Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If
you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.”
It happened that one of the Twelve, Thomas – nicknamed
Didymus, or “Twin” – was absent when Jesus came. The other
disciples kept telling him, “We’ve seen Jesus!”
Thomas’ answer was, “I’ll never believe it without putting my
finger in the nail marks and my hand into the spear wound.”
On the eighth day, the disciples were once more in the room,
and this time Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors,
Jesus came and stood before them, saying, “Peace be with you.”
Then, to Thomas, Jesus said, “Take your finger and examine
my hands. Put your hand into my side. Don’t persist in your
unbelief, but believe!”
Thomas said in response, “My savior and my God!” Jesus then
said, “You’ve become a believer because you saw me. Blessed
are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus performed many other signs as well – signs not recorded
here – in the presence of the disciples. But these have been
recorded to help you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Only
Begotten, so that by believing you may have life in Jesus’
Name.