Tuesday 03 July 2012

Background

The story of Thomas' reaction to the news of Christ'sresurrection is unique to the Gospel of John's account of Jesus'ministry and it is a story with which we can identify on manylevels.

Jesus' followers are traumatised by his arrest and executionand, under the circumstances, are fearful for their own safety. Inthis time of grief, fear and confusion various events have begun togive them hope. The excitement of the women on finding the emptytomb, and Mary's claim to have met the risen Jesus in the gardenhave shocked and amazed the other followers. Later that day as theygather rather nervously in a carefully locked private house theyare amazed to find Jesus among them but Thomas, having missed thisencounter is understandably troubled.

In the character of Thomas we find much that is familiar to us.His doubts are not such much in Jesus, but in the reliability ofhis friends in their troubled state of mind. His insistence ondetailed proof seems to suggest that he cannot bear to entertainsuch a wonderful possibility until he is certain there is no fearof disappointment.

In Jesus' encounter with Thomas we see his desire to free himfrom any sense of shame at having doubted as he reassures him withthe words "Peace be with you" (v. 26). We see, too, a challenge inhis statement that those who believe without seeing are trulyblessed (verse 29). Perhaps most encouragingly of all we see inJesus a desire to meet Thomas in every detail of his doubting andensure that his faith is strengthened in every way.

To Ponder:

• Why do you think Jesus waited a week before returning toThomas?

• Jesus fulfilled Thomas' request exactly. What do you feel youneed most from God today?