A lesson learned by Thomas’ doubt

Let’s talk about Thomas.  I think Thomas may be one of my favorite disciples of Jesus.  It’s unfortunate that he’s been given the nickname of “doubting Thomas”, but like everything with God, I think God did that for a reason.  God knew we’d relate to Thomas one time or another, but my thoughts are that God actually knew we’d relate to Thomas way more times than we’d like to admit.  The thing I find interesting about Thomas, is that he’s not mentioned a ton in the Bible, yet the times he is mentioned are extremely important parts. 

After Jesus died and rose again three days later, Mary and the other disciples had separate accounts of seeing the resurrected Jesus with their own eyes.  They saw and spoke to Jesus after his resurrection, but Thomas was not with them.  “Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” John 20:24 Thomas’ trusted friends and followers of Jesus shared the great news with him that Jesus was alive, but Thomas had doubts.  Like many of us, Thomas wanted to see and believe Jesus for himself.  I think we can assume that Thomas had some big insecurities of why Jesus showed up for them and not him… so Thomas shares his sincere doubts.  “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25  I don’t think Thomas was saying this from a place of defiance, but simply from a place of sincerity.  

“A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.” John 20:26 What sticks out to me in this sentence is that a whole week had gone by since that conversation about what Thomas needed in order to believe.  At this point, the other disciples had seen Jesus with their own eyes and believed for themselves and Thomas was the only disciple who did not see Jesus.  A whole week had gone by and I can only imagine the doubts that rose in Thomas’ mind at this point.  An entire week of continuous questions, wondering where Jesus was, why he didn’t show up for Thomas, the mind games going on in his head, the attacks from the enemy… all of it. There was likely a big narrative that Thomas drew up in his mind and I wouldn’t be surprised if Thomas’ heart has hardened a bit at this point.  So an entire week goes by, but God is not bound by our timelines.  God can and will show up at the proper time.  “Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said “Peace be with you!” John 20:26  A locked door, a hardened heart, a doubtful mind is not a barrier for Jesus.  “And he stood among them.” (26)  Jesus came and was with them.  Jesus brought peace- the very thing Thomas probably needed at that time, as doubt and disbelief were likely strong in his head after an entire week of questioning.   

“Then he said to Thomas” (Because God knew exactly who needed him the most in that moment). “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27 Jesus knew in that week-long period of not seeing or hearing Jesus, that Thomas’ doubt was high.  Jesus knew exactly what needed to be said and done in order to increase Thomas’ belief.  Jesus knows our thoughts.  This is one of the things that blows my mind the most about this interaction between Jesus and Thomas.  Jesus knew the exact doubts and actions Thomas requested… and answered it word for word. Let’s break it down.

Thomas: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands” (25)
Jesus: “See my hands” (26)

Thomas: “And put my finger where the nails were” (25)
Jesus: “Put your finger here” (26)

Thomas: “And put my hand into his side” (25)
Jesus: “Reach out your hand and put it into my side” (26)

Thomas: “I will not believe” (25)
Jesus: “Stop doubting and believe”. (26)

Remember, Jesus’ response to each of these requests/doubts were a week later and he wasn’t even “physically” in the room with the disciples when Thomas presented this- yet he perfectly responds to each one.  This stirs me up so much.  In Jesus responding perfectly, Thomas’ only response is full certainty, absolute certainty in Jesus.  “My Lord and My God!” John 20:28… what other response is more fitting?  Jesus responds to Thomas in the exact way he asked for in order to answer his doubt and increase Thomas’ belief.  “Then Jesus told him, “because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 I don’t think Jesus said this to condemn Thomas for his need to see Jesus in order to believe in his resurrection because remember, “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”.  Romans 8:1 I think Jesus specifically said that because he knew WE would need to remember that truth for generations to come. We are in a society where we need to see things with our own eyes to believe, but even so, we still have a hard time believing because of the state of technology (i.e. AI).  We are especially in a time where we need to realize that seeing doesn’t equate to believing.  We want answers and certainty to all things, but Jesus tells us that we are blessed if we believe, even when we don’t see.  He knew we needed that simple truth for generations to come.  This interaction needed to happen for each of us reading it. There is power in believing, even when we can’t see it. 

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31-31 Life in HIS name.  His name alone. Not by believing in general, not by believing “all ways lead to heaven”, “all religions lead to heaven”, “being a good person”, but by believing Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, that you may have life in his name alone.  Thomas’ doubts weren’t just to teach us it’s okay to have doubts, yet believe.  Thomas’ sincere doubts led to sincere truth about Jesus.  Thomas’ sincere questions led to some of the greatest truths we can take from the entire Bible. In John 14:4 Jesus says “You know the way to the place where I am going”.  And we can trust that if Thomas has questions or doubts, he’s going to speak up and I’m so thankful he did because we now know the way.. So Thomas says “Lord, we don’t know where you are going , so how can we know the way?” John 14:5 and Jesus responds with the greatest truth “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 Because of Thomas’ sincere questioning, we can be confident of the way to heaven and life in abundance, which is through Jesus Christ alone. Thomas’ doubts allowed us all to hear the truth. 

One of the most interesting things about Thomas is that after all his questioning and doubts, he happened to be the disciple that travelled the furthest to spread the Gospel.  His doubts and questions were real, but his faith and belief in Jesus grew with certainty from bringing those questions and doubts to God.  Thomas brought the Gospel all the way to India and was eventually martyred for his belief in God.  He believed in Jesus with all of him, to the point of death.  He would never deny Jesus after the way Jesus showed up for him.  Thomas doubted, yes, but in his doubts and his sincere questioning, Jesus answered him and responded with absolute truth.  We, whether you believe or not, needed to recount this interaction between Thomas and Jesus.  We need to see that even a disciple of Jesus, who witnessed miracles done by Jesus first hand still had doubts.  For as long as there is separation in the garden, sin in the world, an evil one lurking, doubts will arise, but “blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.” Bring your doubts to God and let him show up for you in a way that is specific to you, and let your belief be magnified by his response.  Jesus will and can do that for you.