Some things seem just too good to be true. But there’s hope, even for doubters.
Thomas was a practical man. He needed to know how things were going to work before he would assent. Is He really risen? Show me the nail scars. How will we get to heaven? Well, someone will need to give directions or scribble down a map. Abstract concepts didn’t seem to be working for him (John 14:5). He needed the concrete facts—that’s just how Thomas thought. Actually, it’s how we all tend to think. Why walk by faith, when you can walk by carefully peer-reviewed sight? (Goodness, Thomas would have loved the fantastic process of academic peer review!) The truth is, most of us are predisposed to doubt just like Thomas.
What then are we to think of Thomas’s faith? We must not make the mistake of thinking Thomas was totally devoid of it. He did believe. Yes, he doubted until the moment He saw Christ appear before him, but Christ Himself still recognized that Thomas believed. Perhaps we could say he was a man of slow, or maybe even weak, faith. Thomas is all of us; while we say, “I do believe,” we must also cry, “help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
Thomas’s life is a reminder of the incredible mercy of God. Jesus had spent years walking with His disciples, teaching them, explaining to them what would happen: how He would be arrested, crucified and buried, and how He would rise again. Thomas had heard all of it, again and again. But the death and resurrection of Christ was a wholly new concept, not unlike how we are slow to understand a color that’s left of red or right of indigo on the spectrum. When the fulfillment came, Thomas fled before Jesus’s captors. He had seen Jesus’s terrible death, yet he still could not come to accept that the rest would come true—that ultimately, it would end, not in sorrow, but in resurrection. It was too good to be true.
But, when at last the Savior stood before him, Jesus did not rebuke Thomas. Instead, He reassured him. He gently encouraged the doubter (John 20:27). What tender mercy! What abounding grace! It feels too good to be true.
As with Thomas, our own common sense and practical realism are often a barrier to deep faith. As with Thomas, we also often walk by sight, instead of believing that God will do just as He said. But for us, as for Thomas, there is grace. God is not threatened by your doubts, or undone by your hesitations. He is gentle and lowly of heart (Matthew 11:29). In His great patience, He calls us into the rest that He gives. The Lord, the Resurrected One who has conquered sin and death, is yet so gracious that He offers comfort to slow and foolish hearts such as ours.
“Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and untraceable his ways!” (Romans 11:33). Despite our skepticism, He gently chides us, saying, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (John 20:29), and then also offers us ever-increasing evidence of His faithfulness and truth. He offers mercies that are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23), that we may daily repent of our doubting hearts, and run to Him again in faith. The answer to all our doubts, as it was for Thomas, is Christ Himself. Fix your eyes upon Him, because the gospel is true, and our God is so very good.
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38 thoughts on "Thomas"
Sometimes, many times, my logical, practical self gets in the way. The last few days I have found myself being discouraged because of this place that we find ourselves in. This message was just for me, and I thank You, Lord.
As I was sitting on the porch reading this, a hummingbird came and hovered 2 feet in front of my face, as tho she was chastising me. I said to her, “your feeders are full… go and eat!” Then God gave me this thought: “yes, Cindy, the feeder is full… come and eat.” I want to cry. I am thankful.
Pray that God gives us “patient endurance” during this time and that we remember even in our questions like Thomas, Jesus will still show up and remind us time and time again who he is and his love for us. He’s just that faithful and that kind.
I think we all have times when we are more like Thomas in our faith walk than we’d like to be. I find great comfort in the abounding grace and tender mercy JESUS shows Thomas with the simple statement, “Peace be with you.” That’s what HE wants for us…for me. I pray that today, I will lean into the peace JESUS promises me when I believe and put my trust in HIM.
Happy Monday Sisters!
How many times haveI been a Thomas, having to ask God to show me who He is? And He does in so many amazing ways. Right now with all that is going on in this crazy world, my faith in Jesus is the calm, the still waters, the restoration of this soul that keeps me anchored in truth and love instead of fear and chaos. He is holding us, and He will not let us go. Thank you Lord God for all you are and all you are doing may your Holy Spirit be visible in us and may your words of hope and love pour out in faith from us in the name of Jesus.
Well said Churchmouse. I think I forget daily that God is God! He’s in control. He spoke it all into existence and He is faithful from generation to generation.
Praying for my own faith to strengthen, and especially praying for loved ones and friends with faith in things other than Jesus.
It seems to me that Thomas simply forgot that Jesus is God. Thomas was lacking belief in Jesus for Who He really was. It’s not like Jesus didn’t tell him, and the other disciples, to believe in Him. He did. Repeatedly. Perhaps it’s just easier to believe when five thousand are fed from a child’s bag lunch than it is when the miracle worker dies an excruciating death on a Roman cross. Faith is shaken when the applause of the crowd fades. Thomas forgot what he later boldly proclaimed: Jesus is Lord and God. Nothing is impossible with Him. He delivers on every promise. He said He would die and rise again and so He did. Thomas’ faith was shaken but then he stabilized. It took a personal encounter with the risen Jesus. Whereas Thomas wavered, Jesus’ love for him never did. Jesus tells Thomas to reach out and touch, receive renewed faith. Thomas did and so can we. Let us daily seek an encounter with Jesus. Let us receive His touch. Let us walk in fresh faith. Let us proclaim “my Lord and my God!”
Beautiful
There is a teaching called, Thomas meets Jesus by Tim Keller! Hope you can listen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timothy-keller-sermons-podcast-by-gospel-in-life/id352660924?i=1000472623336
I listened to it yesterday and it spoke to loudly to me! Loved it. Thanks for sharing!