Today’s reading: John 20:1-29
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 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” (John 20:24-25).
These two verses in John 20 earned Jesus’ disciple Thomas the nickname “doubting Thomas”. Are you familiar with Thomas and his doubting ways? I am. I’ve read this passage and heard the nickname hundreds of times. But honestly, until I studied it a little closer this week, I always thought it was negative and/or condescending. That because Thomas declared his desire to see physical evidence before he believed Jesus had risen from the dead, he was tagged as a contrarian or naysayer.
In reality, Thomas’ doubt wasn’t received by Jesus as a negative attitude. Let’s take a little closer look.
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.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:27-29).
In verses 24 and 25, Thomas told his fellow disciples that he wasn’t going to believe Jesus had risen from the dead until he got some evidence. When Jesus appeared to the disciples in this setting (verse 28), he didn’t have to wait for Thomas’ skepticism to show up, as he knew Thomas’ heart before any words were spoken. Here is the kicker though – Jesus didn’t respond like I would have responded. My human nature has a desire to be right. While I probably wouldn’t have said, “I told you so”, I would have found a way to kindly remind Thomas that the story was playing out just like I said it would. And that if he’d paid attention a little closer, he could have avoided the fear, uncertainty, and potential shame he was feeling.
As you know, Jesus didn’t (and doesn’t) operate like this. He was steadfast in his goal and his motives were always pure. Jesus didn’t reprimand Thomas for doubting. Rather, he calmly offered the evidence Thomas’ heart needed to believe that he was God and had conquered death through his resurrection.
Did you notice how Thomas responded in verse 28? He didn’t begrudgingly or casually say, “You’re right Jesus, I get it now, thanks for the reminder”. Rather, he responded with one of the most powerful confessions recorded in scripture. He declared his unwavering belief and complete submission. I picture him bowing or throwing himself at Jesus’ feet in worship as he declared,
“My Lord and My God” (John 10:28).
My takeaway from today’s passage is this – God doesn’t necessarily view doubt a bad thing. If doubt or skepticism leads us to question until we find answers, and the answers lead to a deeper faith in Jesus, there is goodness in doubting. When doubt turns into stubbornness produces unwillingness to pursue the truth, or unwillingness to accept the truth when it is revealed, then doubt is a bad thing and can harm our relationship with Jesus and with others.
My advice for us today – when we doubt, we should doubt out loud. We need to keep talking about our doubts, and/or the doubts of others, until we find answers. Then, we must be open to God’s truth as it is revealed to us.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness
(Lamentations 3:22-23).