Now Thomas (called 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 it.”

Poor Thomas. He was the only disciple to miss Jesus’ initial encounter with the disciples after He rose from the dead.

Thomas’ doubt has been the subject of theological debate down through the centuries with some ridiculing his unbelief while others seeming to understand why he doubted. Doubting Thomas is the name he has been saddled with, which is kind of like the term Rahab, the Harlot. Clearly, Thomas had doubts, but can you blame him?

The church today has access to all of the scripture, but that wasn’t so when Jesus rose from the dead. The gospels (and the rest of the New Testament) were to be written over the next century and not everyone had complete access (or understanding) to what Christians call the Old Testament. Indeed, the disciples’ confusion could be understood given what appears to be contradictory accounts of just who the Messiah would be.

In Isaiah 53, a suffering Messiah is presented, pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities while in Isaiah 11 the Messiah is described as someone who will “strike the earth with the rod of his mouth.”

Regardless of what your position is on Thomas, I love Jesus’ response: “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” After Thomas cried out in recognition, Jesus said: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus met Thomas in His unbelief, inviting him to touch His hands and His side. He could have simply told Thomas who He was, but Jesus went one step further by allowing Thomas to touch Him.

Yes, it is better to believe without seeing as that is what true faith is all about. Yet, in this case Jesus took the extra step to help one of His followers believe.

I can’t help but think that Jesus sometimes takes an extra step to help us through our personal unbelief too.

Photo Credit: John DeBoer; Moncton, NB Canada

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