The Doubter Who Believed: Thomas and the Resurrection

In our daily 3-minute meditations, we continue to reflect on what it was like for Jesus' disciples when God raised Him from the dead. John the Apostle now presents a final witness and recounts Thomas's encounter with the resurrected Lord Jesus.

²⁴Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵So 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." ²⁶A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." ²⁸Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" ²⁹Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:24-29).

How did Thomas miss seeing Jesus that first night after the resurrection? Before judging him too harshly, let us recognize that each person copes with tragedy and pain in their own way. Maybe Thomas withdrew and sought solitude instead of fellowship. Sometimes, everyone needs time alone, but when a believer is feeling down, it's wise to seek encouragement from others. When we isolate ourselves, we often don't realize how vulnerable we become or what blessings we might be missing. Thomas heard the other disciples talk excitedly about Jesus' appearance, but he refused to believe it.

How gracious the Lord was to Thomas by returning a week later! (v. 26). Jesus approached Thomas and invited him to verify the evidence firsthand so he could believe. It’s notable that, although the Lord was not present when the disciples told Thomas about Jesus' visit, He was listening to his disbelief. We should never forget that God hears everything we say. Nothing escapes His notice, and our loving God observes and hears every idle word and action (Matthew 12:36).

Until this appearance of Jesus, Thomas was not willing to walk by faith. He only trusted what he could see and experience through his senses. The disciples were entering a new relationship with Jesus that required them to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Thomas wanted to see and feel before believing that Christ had risen. When the Lord invited Thomas to touch the nail marks in His hands, he fell to his knees, saying, "My Lord and my God!"

To Thomas' credit, once he saw Jesus alive before him, he did not hesitate but worshiped Him immediately. He finally experienced the blessing and joy that the other disciples shared. Not all believers will receive evidence through their senses. Occasionally, God may give someone confirmation, but we should step out in faith based on God's objective word and the testimony of the Holy Spirit within us. We must live by faith and not by sight. Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Part of growing into maturity in Christ involves learning to step out in faith without knowing where God will lead us.

The African impala provides a clear example of the difference between our sense knowledge and faith. The impala can be kept in an enclosure with a wall only three feet high, even though these animals can jump over ten feet and cover more than thirty feet with a single bound. However, the impalas will not jump unless they can see where their feet will land. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see and to leap beyond the barriers that keep us confined to the realm of the senses. Thomas is the last of the disciples John presents as a testimony for you and me, to help us believe and trust in Christ. Keith Thomas.

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Taken from the series in the Gospel of John, study 41: Jesus Appears to Mary and the Disciples. You may also enjoy watching the YouTube video, "Why Did Jesus Have to Die?"