DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME
John 20:24-29 NKJV
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
This is such a classic example of what true faith looks like by seeing exactly what faith is not. Thomas was one of Jesus' 12 disciples. He was part of the inner circle. Jesus had many followers, but Thomas had access that was only eclipsed by Peter, James, and John. Thomas had exposure to Jesus few people enjoyed. And that may be the reason that his story of unbelief is told.
Thomas had reasons to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. Jesus had told them that He would rise again. Other people had seen Jesus alive. And ten of the guys that Thomas had been with for the last three-plus years testified to Thomas that they had seen the Lord. These were not wild-eyed random people. These were the men that Thomas had done ministry with, seen miracles with, and heard Jesus' teachings up close. But Thomas decided.
Unless I see and feel, I will not believe. That was a choice. Thomas could have listened to his friends and been excited. He could have rejoiced that the man whom he had followed and believed in was alive. He could have questioned his friends, and when he found all their stories the same, he could have chosen to believe. His fellow disciples were pumped about Jesus being alive, but Thomas missed all the fun. Because of his choice, he spent another eight days in the dark until Jesus showed up again.
I have no way of knowing how Thomas felt when Jesus called him out. But I can only imagine he felt a bit chagrined. When Jesus told him to do exactly what Thomas had said it would take for him to believe. When Jesus encouraged him to not be faithless but believing. We know Jesus was not mean-spirited about His correction of Thomas. But we also know Jesus would not have addressed him if Thomas was unable to believe. Jesus corrected Thomas for his bad choice, not because he could not help himself.
To Thomas' credit, he made a great adjustment. My Lord and my God was a great response to Jesus. But Jesus was not finished with this teaching moment. He used this example to define who the people are in God's kingdom who are blessed. It's not those who have to see to believe. It is those who believe without seeing.
Historians tell us that Thomas had a particularly effective ministry in India after his encounter with Jesus. And notice that Jesus did not confine Thomas to the ranks of those who would never be blessed. Thomas had to make better choices going forward. But I am glad we have his example. It's a great lesson on what not to do.
APPLICATION
We can learn from Thomas and make the choice to believe before we ever see or feel. That is how we received the Lord in the first place and how we live this new life with Him.
We choose to believe we are new creations in Christ. We choose to believe we are now the sons of God. We choose to believe we are dead to sin and can live in the newness of our new spiritual life. We choose to believe that God loves us and has a plan for our lives. We believe His grace is greater than our past and stronger than our weaknesses. We choose to believe that the Holy Spirit is our helper and we have an advantage in life. We choose to believe without having to see or feel.
Thomas showed us what not to do, and Jesus told us what to do. We choose.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You, that I have the capacity to believe You. I believe Your Word. I believe in the help of the Holy Spirit. I believe I am what You say that I am. I choose to believe.