How Much Proof Do You Need to Believe in Jesus?

How much proof do you need to believe in Jesus? Let’s discuss this mot important question. You can believe today!

The Contrast
Are you more like Thomas or Nathanael? Both men were disciples of Jesus, but the amount of proof they needed to believe in Him is remarkable.

Nathanael Meets Jesus
At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He started calling His disciples. Philip had already met Jesus and decided to follow Him. Philip wanted to introduce his friend Nathanael to his new Rabbi:
“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, as well as the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45).

Nathanael Hesitated
However, Nathanael didn’t immediately agree with Philip’s claims. Instead of accepting Philip’s enthusiastic descriptions of Jesus, which included His Messianic credentials, Nathanael hesitated. Philip had said that 1) Jesus is the Messiah Moses wrote about in the Law (fourteen hundred years before Jesus was born). 2) Jesus is the Messiah the prophets wrote about (hundreds of years before Jesus was born)

Instead, His response was negative, that Jesus was from the despised city of Nazareth:
“Nathanael said to him, ‘Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see” (John 1:46).

Nathanael’s Proof
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He commented on his character even though they had never met.
“Here is an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” (John 1:47-48).

Jesus replied,
“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you” (John 1:48).

Jesus captured Nathanael’s attention by knowing his character before He met him. However, what convinced Nathanael was that Jesus knew something specific about him: He saw Nathanael sitting under a fig tree when he was still out of a normal human’s sight.

Nathanael’s Confession
At that unexpectedly low-key revelation, Nathanael confessed his faith, saying,
“Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49).

Insignificance and Grandeur
Jesus remarked on its relative insignificance, compared to what else He would do, understating,
“Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these” (John 1:50).

Nathanael would see grander things, like Jesus risen from the dead. This is the central focus of his contrast with Thomas.

Jesus’ Resurrection
After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to His disciples, who, despite Jesus’ prediction of His death and resurrection, didn’t expect it:
“He (Jesus) began to teach them that the Son of Man must … be rejected by the (Jewish Leaders), and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31). 

Jesus’ Appearance
On the evening of Resurrection Sunday, Jesus appeared to His disciples bodily. His resurrected body entered their locked room. However, Thomas was not present
“The doors being locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst…. He showed them His hands and His side” (John 20:19-20, 24). 

Doubting Thomas
Thomas is known throughout Church history as ‘Doubting Thomas.’ When Jesus’ disciples told him that Jesus had appeared to them, Thomas replied,
“Unless I see the nail prints in His hands, and put my finger in the nail prints, and put my hand in His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

Credible Testimony Doubted
Let’s see. Nathanael believed Jesus was the Messiah, Israel’s eternal King because Jesus said he had seen Nathanael under a fig tree. But Thomas wouldn’t believe the credible testimony of the ten disciples, who told him Jesus had entered a locked room and shown them His nail-print-scarred hands and side. Some people require more evidence to believe.

Irrefutable Evidence
Jesus was about to ascend to His Father in heaven, and He couldn’t leave any of His disciples doubting His resurrection. It was important for all of them to believe. Therefore, Jesus appeared again to His disciples in a locked room; this time, Thomas was present.
“Then He (Jesus) said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Put your hand here and place it in My side. Do not be faithless, but believing” (John 20:27).

Jesus provided irrefutable evidence, and Thomas believed:
“Thomas answered Him (Jesus), ‘My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

Special Blessing
Jesus said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have yet believed” (John 20:29).

Evidence Gaps
Does it matter that some people require more evidence to believe? According to Jesus, it does. He particularly blesses the faith of those who fill in the evidence gaps. Jesus honors the faith of those who believe based on full evidence, because some choose not to believe. However, the type of faith He seeks is that of those who are willing to fill in the missing pieces and trust in His promises.

How About You?
Do you identify more with Nathanael and believe with little evidence, or are you more like Thomas, who required undeniable proof? Or do you remain skeptical even in the face of that?

“Yet to all who received Him, He gave the power to become sons of God, to those who believed in His name” (John 1:12).