As a child growing up with some pretty special Sunday School teachers who could wield a mean flannel graph ... I remember not thinking too positively about the disciple of Jesus, Thomas. If you read the familiar account of John 20:19-21 you will be reminded that he was the disciple that did not believe the testimony of the other disciples from Easter ... who said they had seen the risen Lord. He is best known for his comment, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (v.25) ... and thus the name that had dogged him through history - "Doubting Thomas."
I would like to rename him "Up Close and Personal" Thomas ... and suggest that, as usual, the Holy Spirit did us a major favor by including this account in the Holy Scriptures. Consider the fact that he followed Jesus faithfully for three years ... He didn't betray Jesus like Judas, or deny Jesus like Peter. He did question the resurrection of Jesus ... but once convinced of its reality ... he became a leader in the early church. According to tradition he evangelized India where he was later martyred. In other words, he later trusted in his Lord to the point that he gave up his life for Him ... his resurrected and living Lord.
Again, I would like to rename him "Up Close and Personal" Thomas ... because his was not going to be a faith just based on the witness of the other disciples. Oh, no! His faith was going to be "up close and personal" with His Lord, as all faith must be. It was going to be a personal relationship with Jesus based on truth.
This much we know from the story of Thomas ... the Christian faith not only can stand up against intense investigation and scrutiny, it invites it ... especially the resurrection.
When you examine the Christian faith it becomes overwhelmingly obvious that Jesus is who he claimed to be -- the Son of God; that his death was the world's redemption ... proved by His resurrection that first Easter morning.
Yet you can know these historical facts and not have a saving relationship with Jesus. You must believe that He is your Redeemer, your Savior, your risen Lord. That personal belief, that personal faith comes through, and is the work of, the Holy Spirit.
Thomas had to find the answers for himself. But when he did, when he realized that Jesus was risen from the dead, his faith centered totally in Him. That's why he looked to Jesus and said, "My Lord and my God."
Faith indeed! Personal ... most definitely. Doubting? No more!
And Jesus "saw" YOU and me in this encounter with Thomas. Let me remind you of Jesus words to Thomas after his confession: "Because you have seen Me, You have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Thomas did us a favor: he demonstrated that a living, transforming faith is found in a living, up close and personal, ask any question you want ... relationship with Jesus.
Thomas is the literal fulfillment of Jeremiah 29:13: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Thanks, Thomas.
