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.”
Since I was a child I have known Thomas as “Doubting Thomas.” This always seemed like an easy way to pass off Thomas’ failing as his alone. But is it? Is he the only one that doubts? Didn’t Peter and John both doubt the message that Mary gave them? How is this any different?
The only real difference is that it is Thomas’ fellow disciples who tell him about Jesus. And not just one disciple, but all of them. Yet Thomas is defiant. Why?
Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus appeared to the rest. Is it possible he felt left out? Was he angry at Jesus for not appearing to him, too? How would you feel if you were in his place? Sounding somewhat like a stubborn three-year-old Thomas lists his demands. Not only does he want to see Jesus, but he wants to see the nail marks and the wound in the side. More than that he wants to prove it is Jesus by putting his hand and finger into the places where Jesus was wounded. He is not asking for much! Then he states that unless his demands are met, he will not believe.
Application: Satan tempts us to test God all the time. If God were real, how could he let ______ (Fill in the blank with my favorite aunt, my mom, my dad, my child, my friend, my cat, etc…) die? If God is a loving God he would ______ (Fill in the blank with: not allow people to go to hell, love homosexuals, wouldn’t have had people in the Old Testament killed, etc.). Or, the all-time favorite: If God were a loving God he would ______ (Fill in the blank with: make sure I was never hungry, get me that raise I deserve, provide us with a new car, make sure my stock picks do well, etc.). Our challenge in life is recognizing this tendency in ourselves. When we put conditions on our belief as Thomas did we only hurt ourselves.
Food for Thought: Does Thomas wanting to put his hand into Jesus’ side sound a little weird?
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Thomas sounds like he’s being logical rather than faithful. His thoughts are true for everyone making the claims…except Jesus.
Good point Robster!
I agree. I also think Thomas was potentially wanting it so badly to be true that he did not want to get his hopes up. So much was on the line. It is possible that he was protecting himself from a let down. I don’t know for sure, obviously, but am just adding this thought to the list here. Either way, he like the others doubted. Thomas wanted proof. That sounds an awful lot like a lot of us.
Thanks guys! I appreciate the comments. It does seem like he was being “über” logical. I agree also that wanting it so badly played into his thinking. Lots to chew on in the story about Thomas.