So the other disciples told him, we have seen the Lord,’ But he said to them,

‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger

in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

(John 20:25)

This verse comes from the familiar story of Jesus appearing to Thomas a week after Jesus

was raised from the dead. Jesus first appears to 10 of the disciples on that first Easter

night—and for whatever reason Thomas is not with the rest of the disciples. We have

no idea where Thomas is—all we know is that he is not with the other disciples in that

locked house.

At some point, the disciples who saw Jesus on that first Easter night tell Thomas what

they saw and announce to Thomas that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead—just like he

had told them several times prior to the crucifixion. Thomas without physically seeing

Jesus could not believe what the other disciples were telling him—thus we get the notion

of doubting Thomas.

I think that the reality is that Thomas has been given a bad rap because of this story.

Many of us have heard sermons or people say—do not be like Doubting Thomas or have

heard others use Thomas as someone not to be like.

But let’s be serious about what Thomas really did. The disciples told him a story that

the person that they had been following for 3 years whom they saw crucified on a cross

and placed in a tomb—was no longer in the tomb for he was raised from the dead. How

many of us would have probably made similar requests? After all, Thomas simply

wanted what all the other disciples got—for they saw Jesus in the flesh and had that

opportunity to see and touch. Thomas needed this—he wanted to see with his own eyes

his Lord and God.

When many people think about this story, Thomas gets a negative reputation because

we tend to view doubt as something bad. But is it really? After all what is wrong with

asking questions and being a little skeptical? Don’t most of us learn better when we raise

serious questions based upon some doubt or uncertainty that we have about whatever we

are studying or learning?

I think that doubt is a natural part of life and faith. Our faith journey tends to be on filled

with many ups and downs and one where at times we may even be uncertain where we

are headed and not one of a clear straight line.

We may have times like Thomas where we would like to see for ourselves what God has

done. The good news is that God is the one who is ever faithful and sustains us even in

our doubt and with our questions. After all, Jesus did not reprimand Thomas or chastise

him, rather he appeared to Thomas and offered Thomas the opportunity to touch and put

his fingers in the hole. He helps Thomas even in his doubt—and Thomas ends with the

confession of faith for he proclaims Jesus as ‘my Lord and my God.’ May God come to

us in our doubts and strengthen us throughout our own faith journeys.