And Jesus said to him, "Thomas, do you believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."  (John 20:29)

Seeing is believing, we commonly say.

But this text turns it around. Believing is seeing. On that memorable evening in Jerusalem, following the Lord’s resurrection by eight days, he appeared to the eleven disciples once again - this time with Thomas present. Remember how he invited Thomas to touch his wounded hands and side, and then spoke the words we hear on this second Sunday of Easter so many centuries later, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

With that declaration, Jesus sets aside once and for all the thought that we are somehow at a disadvantage in comparison with those who saw his resurrected body. Thomas had wanted to v…