I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on John 19-21

From time to time we will face those who seek to use whatever power over us they may have, whether that power is legitimate or just bullying, to keep us from standing up for what we believe in.  In those circumstances we should remember what Jesus said to Pilate during His trial, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above.”  This statement is equally true of those who attempt to exercise power over us.  They will have no more power over us than that which God gives them.  Therefor we should not be afraid to stand up for what God has revealed to us in the face of such threats.

I have always identified with Thomas in this passage.  When the other disciples told him that they had seen Jesus after the Resurrection, he did not believe them.  He was a skeptic.  However, he was what I would call an honest skeptic.  He thought the claim that Jesus had risen from the dead was extraordinary and therefor required proof.  He did not call his friends liars, he merely said that he could not take their word for it.  Then he laid out what he would consider sufficient proof that Jesus had risen from the dead.  However, the most beautiful part is that when he did see Jesus in the flesh, he did not need the proof which he had demanded.  Thomas was willing to believe, but was not willing to be deceived.  We should seek to emulate him.