The correct option is D. Thomas, the twin. Explanation of the Correct Answer The phrase "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" is found in the Gospel of John, specifically John 20:29. This statement was made by Jesus after His resurrection when He appeared to His disciples. The context of this statement is crucial for understanding why it was directed at Thomas.

1. Context of the Statement: After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples, but Thomas was not present during this first appearance. When the other disciples told Thomas that they had seen the Lord, he expressed doubt and said he would not believe unless he could see and touch Jesus' wounds (John 20:24-25).
2. Jesus' Appearance to Thomas: A week later, Jesus appeared again when Thomas was present. He invited Thomas to touch His wounds and see for himself that He was indeed resurrected (John 20:26-27). After this encounter, Thomas declared, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28).
3. The Statement: Following Thomas's declaration, Jesus responded with the statement, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" (John 20:29). This highlights the importance of faith without physical evidence. Jesus was emphasizing that those who believe in Him without needing to see Him in the flesh are blessed.

Why the Other Options are Incorrect

• A. His mother at Cana in Galilee: This option refers to the wedding at Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle by turning water into wine (John 2:1-11). While this event is significant, it does not relate to the statement about believing without seeing. Mary, His mother, had faith in Jesus' ability to perform miracles, but the context of the statement is specifically about belief in the resurrection.
• B. The father of the epileptic boy: This refers to the story in Mark 9:14-29, where a father brings his possessed son to Jesus for healing. The father expresses his faith by saying, "I believe; help my unbelief!" This story illustrates faith and doubt but does not connect to the specific statement about believing without seeing.
• C. The Syrophenician woman: This woman, mentioned in Mark 7:24-30, approached Jesus to heal her daughter. She demonstrated great faith by accepting Jesus' words and insisting on His help. However, her story does not involve the theme of believing without seeing, which is central to Jesus' statement to Thomas.

Summary of Key Points

• The statement "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" was made by Jesus to Thomas after His resurrection.
• It emphasizes the value of faith without physical evidence, contrasting Thomas's initial doubt with the faith of future believers.
• The other options do not relate to the theme of belief without sight and involve different contexts of faith.

Revision Summary

• The correct answer is D. Thomas, the twin.
• Jesus made the statement to emphasize the blessing of faith without physical evidence.
• The other options refer to different biblical events that do not connect to the theme of believing without seeing.
• Understanding the context of biblical statements is crucial for interpreting their meaning accurately.