Q: I have often been puzzled by the account of Jesus appearing to his disciples and convincing Thomas of his resurrection by showing him the print of the nails in his hands and feet and the wound in his side (see John 20:24–29). Surely Jesus healed by his ability to deny the existence of matter and thus any of its supposed effects. He raised himself from the dead by seeing the unreality of the crucifixion and the impossibility of that experience touching his true spiritual selfhood. How then could he show physical effects of the crucifixion to Thomas?
A: I once asked myself the same question. Certainly you’d think that a complete healing would be one where there would be no physical evidence of the bodily problem. However, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was a unique situation.
The ruling religious council was determined not only to kill Jesus, but to deny and discredit his healing ministry. This would certainly apply to the apex of his career—his own resurrection from death.
