Can you imagine how the disciples must have felt after the crucifixion? For three years, they had traveled with Jesus. They had witnessed unbelievable miracles, but now He was dead. Had they been completely wrong in who they thought Jesus was? Now, the tomb is empty, and Roman officials are saying someone stole the body. But suddenly, while hiding behind locked doors, Jesus just appeared. Did He walk through the walls? Needless to say, Jesus got their attention. John 20:19-25 tells us that Thomas was not there, so he was skeptical when they told him they had seen a resurrected Jesus.

Eight days later, the disciples are again behind closed doors, and Thomas is there this time. Suddenly, as He had done previously, Jesus just showed up. That in itself would be enough to unsettle a person. When Jesus showed the proof of His crucifixion wounds, Thomas believed.

Jesus would appear to His disciples several times before He ascended to heaven. It was a time of reinforcing everything He had previously taught them. They had to be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt because they were given the awesome responsibility of taking the Gospel to the world. They did believe, and they turned the world upside down.