Thomas got a bad rap. At least, that’s the way I’ve always felt. Maybe it’s because I identify with him more than any of the other original twelve.
On the day of Jesus’ resurrection, Mary Magdalene goes to His tomb and finds the stone removed. So she runs and tells Simon Peter and John. They go to the tomb and find Jesus’ linen wrappings, but no body. They don’t know what’s going on, but the previous day had been devastating and they feared for their lives. Only Mary stuck around the grave to grieve.
That’s when Jesus shows up. Accompanied by two angels, He reveals Himself and gives her a message for the disciples. She goes to where they are hiding and delivers her message. Thomas, however, is not there.
We have no idea where he was. But it’s interesting to note that the others were hiding “for fear of the Jews.” Was Thomas unafraid? One of the only other mentions of him in the Gospels was when Lazarus died. Jesus had just informed them that He was going back to Judea, which concerned them because the Jewish leaders there were trying to kill Him. “Rabbi,” the disciples said, “the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” He said that He was, then explained why. “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”
Now, the next statement is attributed to “the disciples,” but I suspect Thomas had a bigger part in it. If he didn’t bring the point up himself, I’m sure he at least agreed. “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Jesus was, of course, using a euphemism to describe Lazarus’ death. Like when I told my young kids that our dog was “put to sleep.” They thought, understandably, that she was literally asleep. “Lazarus is dead,” Jesus replied. Like children, they needed to be told point-blank what was going on.
I am like that. If I had walked the earth with Jesus, I would have been the one constantly saying, “Explain that parable to me. Tell me exactly what you mean!” I would have been the one going, “Judea is not a good idea. They’re trying to kill you and Lazarus will wake up on his own. Let’s be practical here!”
So Jesus tells them that Lazarus is dead, then adds, “and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” The only recorded response was that of Thomas: “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
Wow! Jesus tells them Lazarus is dead, they know the Jewish leaders want to kill Jesus, and yet Jesus insists on going. Thomas, this “doubter,” demonstrates an awesome trust in Christ at that moment. He’s saying, “I don’t understand what you’re doing, Jesus, but I’m going with you anyway – even to the point of death!” That’s not doubt, that’s faith!
So the disciples go with him to Bethany, in Judea, and later to Ephraim. But along the way, they witness an actual resurrection. Lazarus, who had been dead four days, comes hopping out of the tomb. Now I don’t know about you, but seeing that would change my worldview in a dramatic way. It strikes at the very core of science, religion, truth, and life as we know it. From that point on, I would look at everything through the lens of “I saw a dead man come back to life!”
A few days later, Jesus is dead. The disciples are hiding out together, except for Thomas, and Mary tells them that Jesus, like Lazarus, has left the tomb alive. Now this is pure speculation, but I’ve got to think the conversation between the men was a fairly lively debate. Would Jesus really show Himself to a woman first (which would demonstrate a lack of cultural sensitivity)? Why not His own disciples – especially John, who liked to refer to himself as “the one Jesus loved?” He and Simon Peter had just been at the grave. Why not show up then? In her grief, was Mary wishing their recent experience in Bethany be repeated? There had to be some doubt in that room, even without Thomas’ presence.
But that evening, Jesus shows up again. The doors were locked tight, so nobody could get in to harm them. Jesus appears, speaks, and “showed them both His hands and His side.” He proved Himself. These guys didn’t know a euphemism when they heard it, didn’t understand a parable when told, and feared for their lives despite Jesus’ promises of eternal life! Yet, Jesus looked past their fears, doubts, ignorance, and every other shortcoming and showed Himself to them. All except for Thomas.
Of course, they told him. He had to have noticed a difference in their countenance. And it wasn’t like only a few of them said so. It was ten to one, not counting the women! Still, Thomas said, “Unless I 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.”
This is what I love about Thomas. I don’t doubt his commitment to Christ. He was willing to trust what he didn’t understand and follow Jesus to the grave. He had seen miracles, including a dead man coming to life. Surely he thought it was at least possible for Christ to rise. Did he believe that the other disciples were lying to him, every single one of them? I doubt that. I think Thomas just wanted to see for himself. If Jesus showed himself first to a woman and then to the other ten, why not him?
Still, for eight days Jesus didn’t show up. Over a week! It was the first day after His crucifixion and resurrection that He showed Himself to all the others. Thomas had to be wondering if Jesus would ever show up for him. If he ever doubted the veracity of the other disciples, it had to be after a whole week had gone by and Thomas had seen nothing of Jesus. But then, on the eighth day, the disciples were together again – all of them – and He appeared.
Here’s an incredible revelation of Christ’s character. He could have derided Thomas for his lack of faith. Instead, He said, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Jesus didn’t even do this when He appeared the first time. John says He “showed himself” to them. But Thomas, the one who wanted to know Christ firsthand and not merely on the words of others, was invited to touch Him!
Have you ever wanted to know Jesus Christ for yourself and not merely based on what others say about Him? This is the invitation He makes to all of us. Even the doubters, skeptics, and cynics. “Reach here,” Jesus says. “See me for yourself,” He says. “Believe,” He says.
Surely Thomas felt like Jesus was holding out on him. That week had to have been long and troublesome. Still, I believe there is something healthy about wanting to see things for ourselves. When we are committed, like Thomas was, we can ask God to touch us personally. We may have to endure a time of waiting, but He will show up. And then, like Thomas, we can proclaim, “My Lord and my God!”
Randy Robison is the host of LIFE Today+ and author of God Wants You To Be Happy (Harvest House). All scripture references are New American Standard Bible. Primary passages are John 11 and 20.
