During Easter we so often focus on the main stories surrounding the terrible death and then the wonderful resurrection of Jesus. But there are other stories linked in with it which can be so helpful to us. One of these is the story of Thomas, and it begins not long after Jesus had been resurrected. Jesus appeared miraculously to his disciples when they were in a locked room, showing them the marks in his hands and his side to prove it was really him. But then we read about Thomas:
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
John 20:24-25
We don’t read much in the Bible about Thomas, and so he often gets called Doubting Thomas, as if all the other disciples had no doubts at all. And yet in Matthew’s gospel we read this about all of the disciples when they had seen the risen Christ:
When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.
Matthew 28:17
So rather than castigating Thomas as doubting the resurrection when he hadn’t seen Jesus, it would be better to accept that this was such an incredible event to have occurred that it’s only natural that some may have really struggled to accept it happening even when they did see the evidence. Or perhaps the meaning of doubt here is just about not being sure what they were seeing, which would be totally understandable under the circumstances.
Continuing with the story in John’s gospel:
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’
John 20:26-28
Jesus’ words are relevant for all of us. We are part of a community of believers going all the way back to the time when Jesus was still on the earth, yet none of us alive today have actually seen Jesus with our own eyes. Yet we can still encounter Jesus and God in our life by reading the Bible and through prayer, which can bring us closer to them both.
Belief isn’t an easy thing to have by any means, there are many logical reasons we could give to not believe. Yet the best part of 2000 years later, so many people are still drawn to have faith in the risen Messiah, to understand his role in our lives today, and to be prepared for his return to the earth.
Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
John 20:29
All references are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible.
Glasgow South Christadelphians 