The Bold Thomas

Poor guy gets a bad rep. There's a larger picture.

This conversation with Thomas, or at least a truncated part of it’s nature, might be one of the best known out of all of scripture.

Doubting Thomas.

It’s a nickname that’s stuck, but honestly, it’s a bit unfair. Yes, Jesus tells him not to doubt, but if you look at Thomas throughout John’s gospel, what stands out more is his boldness—even impulsiveness. He’s the one who says, “Let us go that we may die with him,” when Jesus returns to Judea. He’s the one who speaks up during Jesus’ Farewell Discourse (John 14-17), asking the hard question when no one else does. His desire to see and touch the risen Christ might not be faithlessness—it might be the honest searching of someone who takes Jesus seriously.

Where was Thomas for Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples, anyway? We’re not told. But based on what we’ve seen of him in John, maybe he just couldn’t bear to sit still. Maybe, unlike the others, he didn’t retreat behind locked doors. Perhaps he needed to walk, to think, to wrestle with his grief out loud and on his own terms. That would be like him—honest, unfiltered, unwilling to pretend everything was okay. If Thomas was anything, he was all-in. And if he thought it was all over, maybe he had to step away and face that honestly.

It’s actually a powerful human moment - one that Jesus doesn’t condemn, but transforms. He meets Thomas where he is and offers what he needs. Maybe some of us can relate.

A lot of established Christians turn up their noses at such questioning. That’s really too bad. Jesus doesn’t. The psalmist doesn’t. Scripture doesn’t. We should make room for people to wrestle honestly with what’s going on in their minds and hearts. That kind of searching can lead to a deeper and more intentional faith.

John 20:24-29

Thomas, the one called Didymus, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”

But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.”

After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!”

Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”

Psalm 27:13-14

But I have sure faith that I will experience the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!

Hope in the Lord! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the Lord!

Prayer

God,

Thank you for meeting me in my questions. I know that you are way bigger than anything I could possibly be dealing with. And your grace is designed for such things. Even so, help me to not get caught in the weeds, except to germinate. Grant me clarity as far as it’s required to bear fruit.

Thank you for not turning away from my searching, but instead inviting me to see, to touch, to believe.

Draw near to me as I strive toward you.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.