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The Risen Lord Strengthens the Faith of Thomas

John 20: 24- 29 (NIV): Thomas…was not with them when Jesus came…. Thomas said, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into His side, I will not believe’…Jesus came…and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see My hands, and bring your hand and put it into My side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe’…Blessed are those who do not see and yet believe.” (edit mine)

Sometimes, doubt is the very key to faith. Doubt makes us ask questions and most importantly to seek answers. Doubt is not the same as unbelief, for unbelief does not care about truth, unbelief is the excuse to avoid it. Honest doubt drives us to truth and when we get there, it becomes transformed into unshakeable faith. Just ask Thomas, who went on to India, a land of a billion gods, proclaiming Jesus as Lord and God, the One and Only. None of those billion gods ever came close to shaking the faith of Thomas.

Thomas was also the first disciple who declared the divinity of Jesus, who recognized Him as God. Up until that point, His followers had declared him Master, Lord, God’s chosen One, Messiah, Lamb of God, even the Son of God. Thomas cut through all the adjectives and got to the point. Thomas had just touched God, the visible expression of the invisible, and declared His faith to everyone. That is one quick turnaround.

We too, are called to believe, knowing full well that our faith may be tested by doubt and fear. As disciples who desire an ever-deeper faith, we are also to be patient and understanding with those who are struggling, searching and seeking like Thomas. The challenge is that when doubt arises, use it as a tool to seek truth, not as an excuse to be unbelieving. For unbelief is how we justify ourselves, to act in our own self-interests, to be our own little gods. So when doubt comes knocking on your door, do not fear, just remember what Jesus can do with it, and soon you will find a deeper faith.

Peace.

Phil Parsons

***There are many paintings of Jesus and Thomas and all show Jesus gripping the hand of Thomas and pulling his hand to the wounds. Jesus leaves Thomas with no doubts. May Jesus grip us and draw us to a settled and deeper faith as well.