Jesus gives Thomas evidence first, then commands belief — a model of evidence-based faith

Jesus shows Thomas his hands and side and says 'Do not disbelieve, but believe' — giving the evidence as the ground for the command to believe. Thomas responds 'My Lord and my God.' For those who have not seen Jesus physically (like modern believers), Mike argues they have the same evidence Thomas had before Jesus appeared: the apostolic testimony ('We have seen the Lord'), fulfilled scriptures, and the historical case for the resurrection. Thomas was rebuked not for lacking faith without evidence, but for ignoring the evidence he already had.