Wednesday 3 July 2024
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” (v. 27)
Background
Today we take a break from Luke’s Gospel to turn our thoughts to St Thomas the Apostle on his feast day. Although mentioned in the other gospels, John’s Gospel gives the fullest picture of Thomas – giving him a key speaking part and an episode all to himself, which earned him the unfortunate nickname ‘Doubting Thomas’.
Our passage takes us back to Easter. Thomas was absent when Jesus appeared to the others in the locked room on the day of resurrection, and he refused to believe their story for a week, until confronted with the risen Christ in the same room.
We know from other passages in John's Gospel that Thomas could be outspoken, saying what the others dared not voice, such as “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:5). But this question led to some of Jesus’ most profound and memorable words (John 14:6-7), showing that we all need people like Thomas in our lives and our churches.
In this Easter passage, when Thomas finally sees the risen Jesus, he does not need to touch him to believe the reality before his eyes. He responds (I imagine on his knees at this point in wonder and worship) with that great declaration of faith: “My Lord and my God!”
I think it is deeply unfair that Thomas is remembered forever as a ‘doubter’, when his uncertainty was so natural and reasonable. When he received the assurance he needed, he responded with tremendous faith.
In Early Church history, it is believed that Thomas went on to Syria, Persia and then famously to India, where he was martyred near Chennai. Legend has it that he was stabbed in the back while praying on a hill, after converting the wife and family of a king. Thomas in his lifetime preached the gospel to thousands, established churches, and cared for the poor and the sick. He helped to grow the kingdom of God in his life and death. Isn’t it a shame we still call him ‘Doubting Thomas’? I am sure that’s not how God sees him.
Jesus commended the many generations of Christians who would find faith and trust in him without ever seeing him. But we can only find faith thanks to the witness of people like Thomas, who did see and passed the good news on to the next generation. Let’s thank God for Thomas (and many other such ‘doubters’) today!
To Ponder:
- Doubting and questioning can be a part of our faith journey, as Thomas showed. What doubts do you have? What questions would you like to explore?
- Can you find a way in your church or group to voice these things in a safe and supported way?
- Are you one who has ‘not seen and yet still believed’? Who has passed on something of their faith to you?
Bible notes author: The Revd Andrew Murphy
A Methodist presbyter in the East Mercia Circuit, Andrew is currently the minister of Harborough, Kibworth and Daventry churches. Married to Emily, with two children, aged eight and ten, he has been in the ministry for 16 years, previously serving in the Hinckley Circuit. A published hymnwriter, he trained at the Wesley Study Centre in Durham, supports Newcastle United FC, and is proud of his roots in Consett, County Durham.