Doubting Like Thomas
The last apostle to discuss is Thomas. In some ways he is the most famous apostle because he’s been given a tag line that has followed him through the centuries: Doubting Thomas.
We do know a few more details about Thomas than some of the others. Three times in the book of John, Thomas was called Didymus-which is the Greek word for twin. He must have had a twin but we don’t know anything more about it.
Thomas is mentioned in every list of apostles. Like the others he had been sent out to share the gospel and given the same power for miracles as the others.
The first time we hear something specific about Thomas is in the last part of Jesus’s ministry. The religious leaders wanted to seize Jesus and they all knew it. The last time Jesus had a run in with them, the Jews picked up rocks to stone Him. To be in the area around Jerusalem was dangerous. Then Jesus got the message that His friend Lazarus was sick. Jesus knew the miracle He planned to do with Lazarus, but His apostle didn’t. Jesus stayed where He was two more days. Then Jesus told them they were going to Lazarus in Judea (the area where Jerusalem and Bethany are located).
The apostles were shocked. They said, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” (John 11:8)
Jesus told them Lazarus was dead. The apostles did not know what was ahead for Lazarus. What they did know is that the village of Bethany where Lazarus lived was only two miles from Jerusalem. Very close to those who wanted to kill Jesus.
In this moment, it is Thomas that speaks up. He says to the other eleven disciples:
“Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (John 11:16)
It is interesting that scripture tells us Thomas says this not to Jesus, but to the other apostles. I think we can infer from that the apostles discussed it among themselves. But we are only told what Thomas said.
I believe here we have a great statement of faith from Thomas. He understands the very real danger Jesus was in-and the danger they were in as His apostles. I don’t think at this point Thomas, nor the other apostles, understood what was ahead for Jesus. But they knew it was dangerous. Here Thomas has counted the cost of following Jesus, and is willing to give his life if necessary.
At the Last Supper, Jesus tells the apostles that the time has come and He is going away. They are confused and don’t understand at all.
Though I’ve studied this many times, this time I realize that some of Jesus’s most often quoted verses are sandwiched around the words of Thomas! (John 14:1-6)
Some of Jesus’s most comforting words spoken at funerals prompted Thomas’s question.
“Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a placed for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.”
“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?’”
Some of the clearest words about how to get to heaven are those used when Jesus answered Thomas’s question.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’” (John 14:6)
Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. On the day Jesus rose from the grave, some of the apostles were gathered together with the door shut tight because they were fearful of the leaders who had Jesus killed. John and Peter saw for themselves that the tomb of Jesus was empty. Mary Magdalene said she had seen and talked to Jesus. They must have been confused and unsure about what to do.
Suddenly the resurrected Jesus stood in the room. He showed them His hands and side. The apostles rejoiced. It was true, Jesus rose from the dead. He was alive!
But Thomas was not there when Jesus appeared.
When Thomas returned and they told him Jesus was alive and had come to them. Thomas couldn’t believe it. He said, “Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)
This is why he is called Doubting Thomas, because he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
For eight days, Thomas must have wrestled with all he had seen and heard.
Then suddenly Jesus appeared again to the apostles. This time Thomas was there. Jesus spoke to Thomas:
“Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into my side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.”
Notice that Jesus does NOT condemn Thomas for his unbelief. Instead, Jesus deals with Thomas about it.
The confusion and doubts that had weighed Thomas down suddenly vanished.
“Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”
Doubting Thomas became Confident Thomas.
Have you ever wondered why these “doubting” conversations with Thomas were included in God’s inspired Word? There is no doubt that Thomas had previously put his faith in Jesus-so I don’t think Thomas was doubting that Jesus was the Messiah and his Savior.
Perhaps God saw fit to include this because He knew that all of His children would go through life experiences they don’t understand. Perhaps God knew that the lives of His children would have twists and turns that are sometimes tragic, difficult, and sad. Perhaps God knew His children would go through valleys of doubt.
Jesus is telling Thomas-and every child of God, that when life tempts us to doubt God’s plan, God’s timing, or even God’s love. . .
choose to believe.
Carla Killough McClafferty