JLB
A. (14)And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.(15)Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. (16)Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
B.(17)Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God (18) Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
C. (19)Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
D. (20)And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side.
E. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
F. (21)Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
F’. (22)And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: (23) Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
E.(24)But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. (25)The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.
D’. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
C’.(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.
B’. (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. (28)And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
A’. (29)Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
From Joe Mullen
A V24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. V25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have SEEN
B THE LORD. But he said unto them,
C Except I shall SEE IN HIS HANDS the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side,
D I will not BELIEVE.
E V26 And after eight days again his disciples were WITHIN,
F and Thomas with them:
E’ then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood IN the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
D’ V27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side:
C’ and be not faithless, but believing.
B’ V28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
A’ v29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast SEEN me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
The centre of this chiasm shows that, despite Thomas’ doubt (Jesus instructs him not to be “faithless” cp Mt 14:31;21:21, Mark 11:23 in which Jesus associates a lack of faith in his disciples with doubt), Thomas is still with the disciples. Mark 16:14 says they were “at meat”, the same phrase as is used of Jesus sitting at the table to eat the Lord’s supper in Mark 14:18 and John 13:28. It seems the disciples are breaking bread and Thomas is there too. He has followed the advice of Hebrews 10:25, not forsaking the assembling of the ecclesia together but remaining with them in order to be exhorted daily. The same should be true for any disciple who has doubts: remain with the ecclesia as that is the place to have faith confirmed by the Word of God.
C and C’ also show the strength of Thomas’ new found faith. To him he is not merely “Lord” as he was the the disciples. He was “my Lord”.