The Apostle Thomas, also known as Didymus, was not present on the first day of Jesus’ resurrection. He was present, however, a couple of weeks earlier when Lazarus was raised at Bethany. The Apostles did not want to go back to this area as the Jews had acted violently toward Jesus and wanted to stone him.
Jesus has now been summoned to go to his sick friend’s house and so Thomas encouraged the others by saying, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). Thomas is a brave disciple and does love his Master. He speaks again in John 14:5, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” in anxious reaction to Jesus telling them that he was going away to prepare a place (in heaven) for them. Jesus then responded with a much quoted verse of scripture, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Thank you, Thomas…
Thomas, unfairly, has been dubbed “Doubting Thomas,” because of his demanding physical proof of Jesus’ resurrection. The truth is that all of the apostles on that first Sunday doubted the eye-witness account spoken of by the women including all three named Mary. The men considered their words “nonsense.” Jesus later that evening exposed his wounds to their eyes behind closed doors and dined with them to prove his real existence. Thomas was not there.
The men tell Thomas and Thomas makes demands for the same physical proof the others have seen. (Secular history tells us that Thomas later fulfilled the great commission and went to India and was martyred for his Lord. “It was to a land of dark people he was sent, to clothe them by baptism in white robes. His grateful dawn dispelled India’s painful darkness. It was his mission to espouse India to the One-Begotten. The merchant is blessed for having so great a treasure. Edessa thus became the blessed city by possessing the greatest pearl India could yield. Thomas works miracles in India, and at Edessa Thomas is destined to baptize peoples perverse and steeped in darkness, and that in the land of India…..” Thank you, Thomas…)
Eight days later all the apostles are together again behind the same locked doors. Jesus suddenly appears and stands among them and said lovingly to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas responded breathlessly, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-28). Thomas has just pronounced what Jesus has wanted everyone to believe — that Jesus is both Lord and God! The second appearing by Jesus has indeed been profound and a miracle of resurrection.
The words of Thomas confirm truth in print forevermore. Jesus is the great “I Am,” Jesus is the “Word made flesh,” Jesus is the “Image of the invisible God,” Jesus is “Son of God and Lamb of God,” Jesus is “Savior and Redeemer,” Jesus is “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched…,”
Jesus is indeed “The Way, the Truth, and the Life!” “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 KJV-BRG). Thank you, Thomas…….And thank you, Jesus….Amen!
(Scott Johnson is pastor at East Faulkner Church of Christ and author of the BRG Bible).