26 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. 27 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. (John 20:26-27 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. Our Saviour’s appearing again to his disciples after his resurrection; it was eight days after he first arose, which was the first day of the week.
Here note, that Christ’s rising the first day of the week, and appearing on the next first day of the week after to the disciples, and the observing that day for their solemn assemblies, and St. Paul administering on that day the Lord’s supper, Acts 20:7-11 and commanding on that day collections for the poor, 1 Corinthians 16:2 and St. John calling it the Lord’s day Revelation 1:10. From these authorities, and the primitive practice, we derive our Christian sabbath; for we do not find in all the scripture, one instance of any one congregation of Christians only assembling upon the Jewish sabbath, but on the first day of the week; on which we ground our observation of that day.
Observe, 2. The wonderful condescension of Christ to the weakness of Thomas’s faith: he bids him reach forth his hand, and thrust it into his side. Not that Christ was pleased with, but only pitiful towards, Thomas’s infirmities; and it ought to be no encouragement to any person to follow his example, in seeking or expecting the like signs of their own prescribing for helping of their faith.
Observe, 3. How mercifully Christ overruled Thomas’s unbelief, for the confirmation of our faith. His doubting, proved a means for establishing his own and our faith; Therefore says Gregory will, Plus mihi profuit dubitatio Thomas Quam credulitas Mariae; “Had not Thomas doubted, we had not been so fully assured, that it was the same Christ that was crucified who rose again.”