Doubting Thomas - John 20: 19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Commentary

This morning I want to point out three things about the gospel that may be the opposite of what we normally hear. I may be wrong, or I may just be a contrarian. This is just what jumps out for me.

I want to start with what Jesus says to Thomas. “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” We usually hear this as an admonition that we must have faith. I think maybe the word “must” is a little too hard. It is noteworthy to me that Jesus does NOT say, “Thomas, because you did not believe, you are not worthy to be my disciple”. Jesus does not say that. Thomas is accepted as he is. In spite of not having faith. Jesus tells him that those with faith are blessed, but he does not say that those without faith are left behind. When we are struggling with our faith, this is good news.

I suggest that in the last two verses of our reading, this idea is taken even further. “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples . . . “. “..these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life...”.

As I read this, it says that the purpose of the miracles was to allow the disciples, and in turn us, to believe. As I hear it, Jesus understands that many people are going to have a hard time having faith. So we are given miracles to hang our hats on. Jesus is specifically holding out a hand for those of us who need more than just faith. What Jesus is after is that we believe he is the Christ. He really doesn't care what it takes to get us there.

Finally, he wants us to believe so that we may have life. Remember, he is fond of saying that his kingdom is not of this world. The life Jesus wants for us is NOT the mortal life of the flesh. His miracles are NOT to suggest that our mortal life will ever be pain free. The miracles are intended as exceptions to the rule, and they are exceptions precisely so that we will understand that they point to a totally different life. An eternal life in God.

May we not be discouraged by our limitations, nor distracted by the material world. May we instead believe that Jesus is the Christ, and ever strive toward the life he holds out to us.

Amen.