“But Thomas one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:24-29).
“Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” These powerful words that Christ spoke to his disciple Thomas because of his lack of faith can be applied to us today. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed that the Passion of the Christ is the work of man, ungodly man. This movie is not a dead issue, and should not be forgotten about in our circles. Once again it was at the top of the charts, on Easter Sunday week, and yes once again it grossed millions of dollars for those who created it. Sure, we have read the many articles and speeches given by our own ministers and professors and are given the reasons why it is wrong; but do we lack the faith as Thomas did to stand up for what we believe? Young people, young adults, did you heed the warnings, or was there a Thomas? Did you have to go out and see the movie to believe?
Troubling it is to hear the warnings so clearly stated and yet come to find out that many have to see to believe. Is not the word of God given to us sufficient? Should we be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and instead see how man views Christ? Paul writes to us in Romans 1:16-17: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” The gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection is clearly given to us in his word. Why then must we see mere man try to portray the perfect image of Christ? The word is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, not a movie used to evangelize. The righteousness of God is set forth here as God working faith in every one of us through the gospel. It could not be more clearly stated!
Why then must these men who are the creators of this movie, holding the truth in unrighteousness, be held in such high esteem when they can see God all around them in this creation, knowing that he as made them all and they are without excuse? They know who God is all right, yet they do not glorify him as God (Romans 1:20-23). They change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man. The glory and the thanks are not given to God. Instead they become vain in their imaginations, with respect to the knowledge of God. A sinful, proud and selfish man of the world portrays an image of Christ. How foolish!
Don’t be foolish as these men are. Believe! Make the beautiful confession that Thomas made, “My Lord and my God.” Do likewise in faith, not having to see and witness the Passion of the Christ portrayed in the movie, but by reading it in his word. Blessed are those who have not seen the movie, and yet have believed. For therein is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Thanks be to God for the preaching and teaching of his gospel, and of his word.