Wednesday – Jesus comes to the Skeptic
Scripture John 20:24-31
Thomas, the one called Didymus, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.” After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!” Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.” Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll. But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.
Thought for the Day: The great author, Frederick Buechner, writes the following about Thomas:
Imagination was not Thomas’s long suit. He called a spade a spade. He was a realist. He didn’t believe in fairy tales, and if anything else came up that he didn’t believe in or couldn’t understand, his questions could be pretty direct.
Thomas is often a caricature of doubt and suspicion, and his name is rarely used in an affirming way. Yet in the end, he is the only one who appears to make the greatest confession of faith with the words, “My Lord and my God!” His questioning and hesitations are what give rise to this clear theological statement – affirming Jesus as the I Am.
Back in the 3rd chapter, Nicodemus offered a statement on Jesus’ identity when he said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Martha seemed to glimpse the identity of Jesus in the 11th chapter when she said, “…I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God…”
Yet neither of these individuals apprehended the fullness of Jesus’ identity like Thomas. So the next time someone accuses you of doubting, questioning or even having a weak faith, don’t panic. You are in good company. In fact, those characteristics just might be what God will use to bring a greater insight.
Prayer: Lord God, continue to provide me with a spirit of passion so that my pursuit of truth doesn’t simply become satisfied with easy answers that rarely answer the deep questions of life. Amen.
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