Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
We don't know why Thomas was away from the group when Jesus came and revealed himself the previous time. But we should remember that he did not expect that Jesus was going to suddenly appear. And neither had he abandoned the rest of the twelve as is evident from the fact that they were together the following week. Given these facts, is it any wonder he found it hard to accept what he heard from the other disciples?
So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord."
What reason could there be for this to take place when he was away? If it was true it would seem to mean that the Lord cared about the others more than him. But, perhaps more likely, it was their collective weakness seeing what they had wished to see. If there was a shortcoming of Thomas in this episode it was his lack of willingness to trust the others. But it is an understandable shortcoming because it seemed like the resurrection, had it happened, ought to have been revealed to him directly as it was to the others. Probably he worried that it was in fact true and that Jesus simply loved him less than the rest. But in fact, mysteriously, the way Jesus withheld himself from Thomas prepared Thomas for a deeper expression of faith than that of the others.
But Thomas said to them,
"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
It was almost as though by not revealing himself to Thomas immediately and remaining elusive he built up a deeper longing in him that he could then fulfill. By giving him greater cause to doubt he was apparently able to establish and even firmer faith when he did all that was necessary to quell those doubts.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe."
Thomas may have thought at first that he was singled out for exclusion. But it turned out that he was indeed singled out for special treatment, but for his benefit, out of love for him. He was not ignored or excluded, but chosen and blessed.
Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
The full confession of faith in the divinity of Jesus was something that Jesus himself desired to give Thomas a particular gift. It necessitated a moment of suffering, and a brief dark night of absence. But when the clouds cleared the sun shone more clearly than ever.
Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
The faith of Thomas who did see was meant to be a blessing to all of those who would later believe based on the testimony of the apostles. Jesus put the profound testimony of Thomas in the heart of the church as comfort for all the kindred doubting spirits that would hear the Gospel throughout the ages. The blessed faith of those who did see was established in order to be a blessing also to us who have not seen and yet have believed. It is not as though Thomas was merely a cautionary tale of what not to do. Rather he was and continues to be for us among the greatest of witnesses to the resurrection and divinity of Jesus himself.
Because Thomas was alone and in doubt we who sometimes feel alone and in doubt can now experience being fully restored and reintegrated, and that to something even better than when we started, just as Thomas was. We may have felt for a time that we were strangers and sojourners, but now we too can be fellow citizens and members of the household of God. It all depends on Christ Jesus himself, Lord and God, as the capstone. And, praised be God, though he was rejected by the builders he has been established by the Father. Thomas would tell us that he is worthy of our faith, worthy for us to let our very lives be built upon him.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
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