“A 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!” 27 Then 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.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:26-29
As we reside in today’s Eastertide season, I am reminded of Jesus and His 12 followers.
Many of them found it difficult to believe that Jesus was alive after His death, burial and resurrection. For we know that during Jesus’ ministry here on earth, He loved His disciples. He redeemed them and ultimately equipped, empowered, and entrusted them to do incredible things in His name. As a matter of fact, the twelve disciples were known to be brash, selfish, short-sighted, and even cowardly at times.
One of them, Thomas, is famously known for his doubt and disbelief.
Thomas was known for his questioning nature, his constant seeking of the truth, and his demanding evidence. This was very distinctive in his request for physical proof of Jesus’ resurrection. But proof of Jesus’s resurrection was “all around.” The women at the tomb said that they had seen Jesus and that He was alive! The two disciples en route to Emmaus saw Jesus, and as they were walking and talking, He joined in their conversation. But in that Thomas was seeking personal verification — he just couldn’t stop doubting and believe.
Maybe you have found yourself in Thomas’s shoes. For our doubts don’t scare Jesus, because He knows that doubts can be the pathway to a deeper and wider faith. Sometimes we must let go of a childlike faith to grab hold of a mature faith. If we come near to God, rather than hide and act like everything is OK, we can connect with a more God-sized faith or find a renewed faith.
This is what makes the example of Thomas so real to us today. When Jesus appeared before Thomas, without wasting any time, He offered Thomas the opportunity to touch His wounds, addressing His doubt directly. This act allowed Thomas to move from disbelief to faith.
As a matter of fact, Thomas responded by saying, “My Lord and my God.” This was a profound confession of faith.
It also acknowledges Jesus’s divine authority. For Jesus declared, “For those who have not seen, and yet believe — are blessed.” This indicated the value of faith-based belief. It also suggests that faith is more valuable than physical proof, and it allows for a deeper understanding of God’s grace. Like Thomas, we too are invited to trust in Jesus’s resurrection by the power of faith. For there is an importance of sharing our faith with others — and inviting them to experience the transformative power of Jesus Christ.
So, stop doubting and believe.
Rev. Marion J. Miller is the Senior Pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church, 1201 Thomas V. Bryant Drive, Jeffersonville, Indiana. She may also be contacted at 812-283-3747 or via email at wesley1201@sbcglobal.net.
