Walking with Thomas

The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe. John 20:25

We are not given a lot of information about Thomas and we only have access to a few of his remarks. At the time when Lazarus died, the disciples tried to persuade Jesus not to go back across the Jordan because the Jews were still threatening to stone him. Thomas, however, was not put off by this possibility. Instead, he says, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). Thomas was completely committed to Jesus, but like all of us, he didn’t always understand all the things that Jesus said. Does that warrant the label, ‘Doubting Thomas’?

Jesus said he would rise on the third day and yet, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and a number of other women, went to the tomb on Sunday morning to put spices and ointments on his body. Events had taken place just as he had said and instead of finding Jesus, they found an empty tomb and two angels. After what must have been a surreal conversation, the women ran to tell the disciples, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them (Luke 24:11). In order to address their own doubts, Peter and John ran back to the tomb to see things with their own eyes. So, even though all of them were told what would happen, it didn’t stop any of them from having doubts.

Peter and John could have taken Mary at her word, but they needed to see the truth for themselves. Likewise, Thomas could have taken the word of the eleven, but he needed to see the truth for himself. Faith is personal. Believing is personal. I cannot walk in your faith any more than Thomas could walk in Peter’s. However, in our commitment to Jesus, we all walk the same path.

Don’t be afraid of your doubts – face them – and ask the Lord to show you his truth. Then, walk in it.