“Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:29
On the evening of His Resurrection, Jesus came to His disciples behind shut doors and showed them His hands and side. Thomas wasn’t there and said he would not believe unless he saw for himself. Eight days later, Jesus came again and invited Thomas to reach out. Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God.”
On the evening of the day He rose, while the disciples were gathered behind shut doors “for fear of the Jews,” Jesus came and stood in the midst and said, “Peace be unto you.” He showed them His hands and His side, “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” He breathed on them and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”
Thomas was not with them. When they told him, “We have seen the Lord,” he said that unless he saw and touched the print of the nails, “I will not believe.” After eight days Jesus came again and said to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands… and be not faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus said, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
Who’s who
The risen Jesus Christ: who comes through shut doors with peace
Thomas, called Didymus: who wants to see for himself
The other disciples: who testify, “We have seen the Lord”
Where and when
In a room in Jerusalem with the doors shut, on the day of the Resurrection and eight days later.
Watch for the Savior
Watch how Jesus comes back for the one who wasn’t there.
Eight stops from shut doors to “My Lord and my God.” Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
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The story, plainly
Four scenes: the first evening, Thomas’s doubt, the invitation and the worship. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
John 20:19“the disciples were Meaning: gathered together.”
John 20:23“whose soever sins ye Meaning: forgive; release.”
John 20:24“called Meaning: the Twin.”
John 20:27“Reach Meaning: here. thy finger”
John 20:27“be not Meaning: without faith; unbelieving.”
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Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders, Church resources or outside sources. Each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The door, the light, the palms, the breath, the stool, the eight days, the finger, the kneeling and the scroll. John 20:19–31
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Where are you?
Unsure, sitting apart, reaching, or believing. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
Try it
Grow a believing heart
Thomas moved from doubt to worship. Tap the things you will do this week and watch each part grow.
“Be not faithless, but believing.” John 20:27
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Their world, their words
A little background on the room, the breath, a prophet’s words and two Greek words helps the story come alive. Outside sources are labeled.
Scripture · John 20
The first day
Jesus came “the same day at evening, being the first day of the week,” the day He rose.1
Risen that very day.
Church resource · Student manual
Breath and Spirit
“In both Hebrew and Greek, the word spirit also carries the meanings ‘breath’ and ‘wind.’”4
He breathed, and promised the Spirit.
Prophet · President Hunter
To believe is to see
President Howard W. Hunter, quoted in the manual: “Thomas had said, ‘To see is to believe,’ but Christ answered: ‘To believe is to see.’”4
Faith comes first.
Scripture · John 20
Why John wrote
“These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”1
Jesus invited Thomas to move from apistos to believing. He invites us too.1
What the text does not say
John doesn’t say Thomas actually touched the wounds. President Howard W. Hunter observed, “The record does not indicate that Thomas accepted this invitation.”4 Seeing the Lord was enough. Thomas answered, “My Lord and my God.”1
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Look to Him
He came through shut doors and came back for the one who doubted. He blesses all who believe.
“The Savior then lovingly taught him as He has taught all of us what it means to have faith.”
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
Thomas Sees the Risen Lord is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for June 21–27, 2027 (Luke 24; John 20–21).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The words are in John 20:19–31; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
