Believing Thomas - December 21
Today’s Readings: Psalm 27; Isaiah 43: 8-13; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:24-29
Today’s Reflection
Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. –1 Peter 1: 8-9
Today is the Feast Day of Saint Thomas, the apostle who had some questions when he heard from his fellow disciples that they had seen the risen Christ. Thomas wanted firsthand testimony. Thomas wanted to collect his own evidence and judge for himself whether this was the Jesus he knew.
The three post-resurrection encounters we hear about in John 20 highlight the importance of firsthand testimony and personal experience of Christ. Mary shared her testimony of the empty tomb and her encounter with the risen Christ with Peter and John. But they didn’t just believe her. They ran to the tomb to see for themselves. And then Peter and John went back to their homes and shared what they saw, we assume with Mary and the other disciples. But their response was lock themselves away in fear, waiting until they could learn more, waiting to see if they would see Jesus for themselves. And then Jesus appeared to the 10 disciples, greeting them in peace, showing them his wounds, commissioning them to go out, sent with the Holy Spirit to guide them.
And then the 10 shared their firsthand testimony with Thomas, the absent one. And, like them, he wanted to see for himself. Now, of course, his choice of words in expressing this was very vivid: “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.” Thomas had a strong reaction. And rightly so. I imagine that Thomas very much hoped that what his friends was telling him was true. But, like them, he needed to have a firsthand experience. And, as we know from the rest of the story, when Jesus returned the following Sunday, Thomas had his chance for his own personal encounter with the risen Christ.
Just like Mary knew who Jesus was by the way he said her name, “Mary,” so too did Thomas recognize Jesus by what he said to him: “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Jesus said these words to Thomas to show that he knew what Thomas had said to his friends when he wasn’t there—knowledge that Jesus would have because he was not just human, but also divine. And so, instead of responding by placing his finger in Jesus’ wounds, Thomas responds by giving what is considered by Bible scholars to be the “highest confession” found in all of the Gospels: “My Lord and my God!” in that Thomas’ confession recognizes the full identity of Jesus, he is both Lord and God.
Jesus’ response to Thomas has been read by those less sympathetic to Thomas, the ones who label him a doubter, as a sort of put-down: “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” However, what other commentators have noted is that Thomas, because he was absent, serves as a representative figure for all of us who would come later and not have the opportunity to see Jesus in the flesh and then believe. Jesus’ encounter with Thomas here in John 20 comes just before John’s concluding, purpose statement in John 20: 30-31: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John’s Gospel was written well after the other three, synoptic Gospels. John wrote his Gospel around 70-100 AD. More time had passed since the years when Jesus had walked the earth and had firsthand encounters with people. And so when John wrote his Gospel account, he did so with this purpose in mind: to develop his characters and stories with such detail and depth that it would allow those who heard it who had never seen, heard, or touched Jesus for themselves to experience, through his Gospel, Jesus for themselves in such intimate detail that they would indeed believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing would have life in his name.
Friends, we are among those who have come after John and Mary and Thomas and the other disciples, who are called to believe based on what others have seen and the words that they have left for us in these Gospel accounts. We can believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, because the Gospels are true, reliable accounts. And yet we, like Thomas, want to experience the risen Christ for ourselves. My encouragement to you is that we can and do experience Christ for ourselves—each time we listen and pray, each time we engage with Scripture, each time we participate in worship and engage with fellow Christ-followers. In the words of 1 Peter: “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Becky+
Collect for Saint Thomas the Apostle: Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in your Son's resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Questions for Self-Reflection
Recall a time when you doubted something had happened, or when you later second-guessed something that at first you felt confident about. What evidence did you need to resolve your doubts and second thoughts? Or did something else—perhaps a conversation with a trusted person or committing the doubt-filled situation to prayer—help you to move from doubt to certainty?
Daily Challenge
Learn more about the power of asking questions in this article from the Harvard Business Review.