Thomas, the Doubter
Gospel of John
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 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 hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
Let’s think about Thomas for a few minutes. Thomas was the disciple who, when Jesus wanted to go to Bethany to check on Lazarus, said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Thomas recognized that Bethany was very near Jerusalem and it was likely people from Jerusalem would recognize Jesus. Thomas knew that Jesus was at risk to go to Bethany. So as sarcastic as his statement may seem, he recognized the risk of going – not only to Jesus but also to his disciples.
Thomas was the disciple who responded to Jesus’ words about going to prepare a place with, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Everyone was thinking about it, but Thomas said it. The disciples did not understand what Jesus was talking about. They often did not understand. Here, Thomas speaks up. This gives Jesus the perfect set-up to explain how he is the way, the truth, and the life, and nobody comes to the Father except through Jesus himself.
One full week has passed since the resurrection was first reported and witnesses have declared belief in the resurrection. Thomas was not in the room when Jesus first appeared. There is some speculation that the disciples had not left the room. Obviously, Thomas joined them, and with perhaps more followers. Every other disciple is saying, “The Lord appeared to us.” Thomas’ statement is understandable because he desires the Lord to also appear to him. How many other people in the room desired that as well?
It seems typical of Thomas to voice the thoughts of those around him. From his sarcasm about going to Bethany, to not understanding where Jesus was going, and now to the lack of actually seeing Jesus for himself, these may be words of his own doubt, but they are words of others who doubt or don’t understand as well.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
John, the gospel author, brings the narrative full circle and he chooses Thomas to do it. The closing of the gospel in the next chapter is anticlimactic. This part is the pinnacle of the narrative. This is what John has been driving at.
A week later. You didn’t need to see Christ on the first day. In fact, you didn’t need to see at all. Jesus enters into the room and gives peace. “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’”
Stop doubting and believe! What does Thomas do? John does not tell us that Thomas fell to his knees but that’s the way I imagine that it happened when Thomas says, “My Lord and my God!”
“My Lord and my God!”
He’s more than they ever knew the whole time he walked among them. This is the exact point that John the Apostle has been leading us to. Jesus is God. He was the Word with God from the beginning and he, the Word, was God.
John does not tell us, but I can hear the audible gasp of each person in the room. Until Thomas verbalized this, and nobody else recognized the truth of the gospel. Jesus’ own confirmation of the truth of these words was indicated in the next sentence he spoke. “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Up to this point the disciples believed in the resurrection. Yes! They were filled with joy. It took Thomas’ words for them to understand fully what all of the signs meant.
Thomas, the Doubter, became the first disciple to truly believe who Christ was. God in the flesh who dwelt among them for a while. God in the flesh who died and was resurrected. God teaching them the ways of God.
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3
Thomas, the Doubter, became the first disciple to understand that Christ was the Source of eternal life.