I feel sorry for poor Thomas. I really do. I think he's been given a bum deal over the years. Can you imagine your nickname (or epithet, if you prefer) being "Doubting"?
It is entirely too easy for us to smirk at the expense of poor Thomas as we read the words of Jesus, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." We feel like Lydia Deetz explaining that the living ignore the strange and unusual.
Except us, of course. We ourselves are strange and unusual enough to immediately understand what Jesus is saying without putting him to the test. We're just that good, right?
Well... probably not.
Christians in general like to make Thomas a cautionary tale concerning the quality (or, God forgive us, amount) of our faith. And considering those words of Jesus, I can see why that might be so.
But that's not how I see read it, honestly. It's so easy to read those words in a harsh, pejorative tone of voice. But what if it was said with a soft, knowing smile on Jesus's face?
I don't think the issue was so much about faith as it was about the relationship between Thomas and Jesus. If you love someone that you're in a healthy relationship with, you don't want or need to ask them to "prove it."
On the other hand, Jesus loves Thomas—even his tendency to get all Scully up in there—and the situation was indeed strange an unusual. Besides which—Jesus did it. He went ahead and proved it, because he knew and loved Thomas.
I can't imagine that scene being anything but happy and kind of funny, actually. Jesus is alive! And right in front of Thomas! And... he's having Thomas put his finger... inside...
ew.
That's love, right there.
Be good to each other,
Rev. Josh
040715
Acts 4:32-35
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Psalm 133
How very good and pleasant it is
when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down upon the beard,
upon the beard of Aaron,
running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there God ordained the blessing,
the blessing of life forevermore.
1 John 1:1-2:2
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
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