Doubting Thomas

Now Thomas (also know 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! But he said to them. Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hands into his side, I will not believe. A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Thought the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put our finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, ” Because you have seen me, you have believed, blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.”

                                                                         John 20:21-29

There can be absolutely no doubt that Thomas loved Jesus, enough to go to Jerusalem to die with Him, while the other disciples were hesitant and frightened. What Thomas expected, happened. He was so distraught that he couldn’t bear to be with anyone. All he wanted was to be left alone in his grief. He wanted to deal with his suffering and sorrow alone. Thomas made a big mistake, he withdrew from the Christian brotherhood. He choose to be alone. Because he was not with his other brothers, he missed Jesus’ first appearance to them. We do ourselves great harm when we isolate ourselves from the Christian community. We experience things during fellowship with other believes that don’t happen when we’re alone. It is precisely when we are overcome with sorrow and pain that we need the fellowship of believers. It is also the most likely place to meet Jesus.

But Thomas did have two very good characteristics: He refused point-blank to say he believed when he didn’t, that he understood when he didn’t. Thomas honesty was admirable. He would never try to still his doubts by pretending they didn’t exist. He would not believed from someone else unless He had Jesus with his own eyes and touch where the nails were. There is more faith in the person who insists on making sure than in those who support things they don’t really believe. It is doubt like Thomas that leads to faith in the end. Once Thomas was certain, he was willing to walk all the way with Jesus, He said, “My Lord and my God! Thomas doubted before he was certain, but once he was convinced, he was prepared to give his all. Working through your doubts up until the end gives you the certainty Jesus that Jesus is Lord and God. The words of Jesus to Thomas were you believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing Him. And even though we haven’t seen Jesus like we can see one another we still believe that He was and is the Christ, our Risen Lord and Savior. 

Grace and Peace to You My Friends