It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.” 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.” Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll. But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name. (John 20:19-31, CEB)
This passage has been named “Doubting Thomas”. Thomas gets a bad wrap here.
The disciples, the 10 of them, are locked in a room for fear of what would happen to them as they had just witnessed Jesus being executed. Jesus appears and says, “Peace be with you.” But then he had to show them His hands and His side before they knew it was Him. And when the 10 find Thomas, where was he by the way? When they find Thomas and tell him they had seen Jesus, Thomas asks for no more than what the 10 got, but because of this, he is labeled a doubter. As if doubt is the opposite of faith.
I doubt all the time. In fact, as I type this devotion, I am doubting my call and where I belong in this world. Doubt is something that comes to all humanity and is not the opposite of faith. Doubt drives us to find answers and seek further. Doubt moves us to question and seek answers. Doubt is not the opposite of faith; certainty is.
Thomas asked to see the wounds, which the 10 got, and needed to see it was Jesus. Thomas wanted and asked for nothing more than what the ones telling him they had seen Jesus got.
Do not shame a follower for doubting or questioning. Walk with them and help them see the light when the darkness is all they see.
aSacredRebel 