A recent conversation brought thoughts back to Thomas. You know which one -the doubting Thomas.
In the Gospel of John, we find the story of Thomas, one of the disciples not present when Jesus first revealed Himself to the disciples after His resurrection.
Thomas. Doubting Thomas. The label has stuck down through the years.
I admire Thomas. He did not believe the report from the others. He told them he would have to see Jesus with his own eyes, and feel Jesus with his own hands, in order to believe Jesus was indeed risen. Thomas would not say he believed when he did not. He was brave enough to state his doubts.
And he was left to wrestle with his doubts for eight days longer. Scripture tells us:
“After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” (John 20:26, NASB)
The disciples were together once again, and this time Thomas was with them behind locked doors. Suddenly Jesus is standing among them. I cannot help but wonder if He was standing directly next to Thomas himself. Jesus does not criticize Thomas. He does not reprimand him. If anything, the words He speaks to Thomas indicate Jesus not only understood his doubt, He also wanted to relieve him of the burden of doubt.
“Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (verse 27)
Christ encourages Thomas to do the very thing Thomas had stated he needed to do in order to believe. Jesus encourages Thomas to touch His wounds. Jesus exhorts Thomas not to be faithless any longer, but to believe.
And Thomas responds:
“Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (verse 28)
Thomas received his proof, and the answer to all his doubts. Doubt has been dispelled and in that split moment, he expresses nothing but deep, sincere, heartfelt belief.
Doubting Thomas becomes believing Thomas. Faith grows when we sincerely seek answers.
Due to Thomas’ declaration of faith, Scripture tells us:
“Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (verse 29)
Jesus tells Thomas there will be others who will believe without having seen. They will be blessed for having believed without ever seeing.
The writer of Hebrews confirms this for us:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, NASB)
May we be like Thomas –
bringing our doubts and questions to Jesus, so then we respond,
“My Lord and my God!”
Are you a list person or one who just goes with the flow? That is the question Lynn Simpson puts before us in her post “For the Joy of Lists” HERE. You will be blessed and encouraged by both her words and her photos!
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Image by 123fotosweb from Pixabay
Joanne, I really love how you have emphasized how Jesus understood Thomas.
Echoing your statement;
“May we be like Thomas –
bringing our doubts and questions to Jesus, so then we respond,
“My Lord and my God!” ”
Blessings, Jennifer
I love how Jesus offered to Thomas exactly what he needed in order to believe. And I love that reference to future believers who will believe without seeing what he saw in person. We can safely bring our doubts to Him. He wants to settle them for us.
Thankfully, He can handle every doubt, care, or concern we have, Joanne.
Joanne, thank you for the tender reminder that God welcomes our doubts without condemnation. He knows our frailty, and fears, and longs to strengthen us in our darkest doubts.
Thomas does get a bad rap, doesn’t he? I love that you admire him, though, and your explanation of why is so enlightening: “Thomas would not say he believed when he did not. He was brave enough to state his doubts.” Also, I never thought about the fact that he was left to wrestle with his doubts for EIGHT days! And how gently Jesus responds to him and dispels his doubt. Wonderful post, Joanne!
“Thomas would not say he believed when he did not. He was brave enough to state his doubts.”
He was brave. He was honest. And this kind of honest authenticity earns respect. I imagine Thomas was one of the most compassionate disciples for people who were skeptics.
“Jesus does not criticize Thomas. He does not reprimand him. If anything, the words He speaks to Thomas indicate Jesus not only understood his doubt, He also wanted to relieve him of the burden of doubt.”
I love that the Lord meets us where we are. Our unbelief is not a problem for Him. Thanks for this encouragement.
I like Thomas. He’s the one who told the 12 let’s go die with Jesus in Jerusalem. I can imagine him thinking, I knew this would happen. When our worst fears happen we need Jesus to open our eyes to His redemptive plan through it.
Jesus was so generous and affirming with Thomas—which gives us confidence to bring our own doubts right into his presence!
Thank you for sharing your insights about Thomas and Christ’s response to him. We can admire Thomas for honestly vocalizing his doubt; he could have kept quiet and pretended to believe what was said by Peter, John, and a handful of women. Praise God he’s attentive to our individual personalities and needs.
Joanne, I love that we can come to God just as we are. Doubts, fears, joys, sorrows, hopes, dreams.
Whatever. He scoops us up, holds us close, and we know that all will be well.
I’m so grateful to have that kind of free and trusting relationship with the Lover of our souls.
God is not threatened by our doubts; Rather, He meets us right in the middle of them with patience and grace. His love remains steady, inviting us to draw closer and trust Him more deeply. What a gift!
A wonderful reminder that we can be upfront and honest with Jesus. He knows…and that is a comforting thought. We never need to hide from Him.
Oh – Amen and Amen! Thomas’s story brings to mind the scripture, “I believe. Help my unbelief.” God knew even those who loved Him would sometimes struggle with belief. Praying for God to minister to those who struggle like Jesus ministered to Thomas.