After Thomas had declared that he would not believe Jesus’ resurrection unless he saw him, Jesus declared blessed the person who believed without ever seeing Jesus (John 20:29). Peter’s readers not only had never seen Jesus during his earthly sojourn but also could not see the (ascended) Jesus at the time Peter wrote his letter to them. Yet the Lord gave them grace to embrace the work Jesus had accomplished for God’s elect and entrust their eternity to him, a reality true for Christians throughout all generations after Pentecost.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,