21 December is the feast day of the apostle Thomas. His name
What we do know is Thomas was
John 20.24-25 KWL - 24 Thomas, one of the Twelve, called Twin, wasn’t with the others when Jesus came.
- 25 The other students told Thomas, “We saw the Master!”
- He told them, “Unless I see the nail-marks on his hands and put my finger on the nail-scars
- and put my hand on the scar on his side, I can’t believe it.”
And we give him crap for this.
We call him “Doubting Thomas.” Forgetting none of the Twelve believed the women whom Jesus first appeared to.
Thomas just happened to be the only guy not in the room when Jesus first appeared, and like the others, couldn’t believe until he saw Jesus with his own eyes.
So Jesus accommodated him.
John 20.26-29 KWL - 26 Eight days later the students, Thomas included, were indoors again.
- Though the door was closed, Jesus came, stood in the middle of them, and said, “Peace to you.”
- 27 Then he told Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands.
- Put your hand on my side. Don‘t be an unbeliever. Believe!“
- 28 In reply, Thomas said, “My Master and my God!”
- 29 Jesus told him, “This you believe because you saw me?
- How awesome for those who don‘t see me, yet believe.”
Jesus wants us to trust him wholeheartedly. Sometimes that’s hard for us to do. I get that. So does he. But he’s willing to work with us if we’re willing to make the effort, and not just close our minds to what he’s trying to teach us. Thomas, y’notice, didn’t abandon his fellow students just because they were sure Jesus was alive, and Thomas wasn’t so sure. Eight days later, there he was, the only doubter in a roomful of believers, holding out because you don’t just psyche yourself into believing things; that’s how people get led astray. You take your doubts to God—
So don’t give Thomas crap. Commend his patience. Jesus gave him the truth he sought. He’ll do that for you too, y’know.