READ: John 20:19-20, 24-28

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord…

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 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.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

REFLECT: We often judge others by a single episode in their lives, something so memorable that they never ever live it down. In some ways that’s exactly what happened to Thomas. We remember him because of his doubt, the moment when he memorably said that unless he saw Jesus personally, he wasn’t buying the idea that he was had come back to life. And so today, when someone is hard to convince, we call them a doubting Thomas.

But this isn’t completely fair to Thomas. It’s true that Thomas was skeptical by nature. It made him the last of the disciples to concede the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

But Thomas wanted to believe. You see, there’s a difference between honest and dishonest doubters. Some people don’t want to believe. They use their skepticism as an excuse for their unbelief. That’s not Thomas. He wanted to believe.

That’s why Jesus was so sympathetic toward Thomas. He didn’t blame him for wanting to be sure. Why? Most likely because Jesus knew that if Thomas could work through his doubts, he would be one of the most faithful and loyal disciples. That’s why Jesus was so willing to give Thomas what he wanted; a chance to see evidence of his resurrection from the dead. And Thomas responded immediately with faith. “My Lord and my God!” His doubts disappeared in the presence of the living Christ.

What happened to Thomas? I’m sure he still struggled with doubt from time-to-time. But it also appears that his faith grew stronger as result of his struggles.

Tradition has it that Thomas took the Good News of Jesus all the way to India. To this day there is a group of churches on the southwestern coast of India who claim that Thomas founded their church. And the name Thomas remains popular there today.

RESPOND: If you’re skeptical by nature and plagued at times by doubt, don’t despair. Ask God for the answers you need. You may not have every question answered, but know that what you have will be enough. Then put your trust in Jesus, living out what he shows you he has for you to do.