Doubting Thomas

            Of the twelve apostles that Jesus chose to carry on the task of establishing the Church, Peter is certainly the best known.  While there are some apostles who we read very little about, there are a group that have a fair amount of information shared in Scripture.  Thomas is one of that group.  Thomas was not included in the closest inner circle of followers (Peter, James and John), but we do have several references to Thomas in the Gospel records.  Perhaps the best known is after Jesus was raised from the dead.  When Jesus made an early resurrection appearance to the disciples, Thomas was not among them.  Afterward, Thomas was informed that Jesus had risen from the dead; Thomas found this unexpected and amazing news. He disbelieved.  He doubted the account and said, “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.” (John 20:25)

            Thomas' response has caused him to be labeled “Doubting Thomas.”  Honestly, I appreciate Thomas’ “seeing is believing” mindset.  While we are called to trust in God and to walk by faith, God understands our questions and doubts.  God often makes the challenge in Scripture, “Test me and see.”  God repeatedly states that He can be trusted.  As God invites mankind to adhere to the Christian faith, our faith is not a shot in the dark or wishful thinking. Christianity can be described in many ways, but at its core it is a historical faith.  The Christian Gospel begins with the reporting of certain historical facts.  Christianity opens not with “Here’s how you have to live,” but with “Here’s what Jesus did for you in history.”  First, He died for our sins and was buried.  Second, He was raised to life on the third day and appeared to many eyewitnesses.  While there are people who do not adhere to the Christian faith, no serious scholar advocates the idea that Jesus did not exist at the place and in the time the Bible records His actions.

Because Christianity is a historical faith, it is also a reasonable one.  The Scriptures are brimming with reasons to believe.  Chief among these is the resurrection of Jesus.  The resurrection is the trump card of the Christian faith.  Anyone can claim that they are God. If I claimed to be God, folks might think I was a lunatic.  Crazy people can have such thoughts.  Or, if I claim to be God, folks might conclude that I am a liar.  After all, this world is filled with liars who attempt to deceive others with audacious claims.  However, if I am not a lunatic or a liar, the only other possibility is that I am really God.  If a person were actually God, then he or she should be able to back up such claims with “God-like” power.  Jesus backed up His claim!  Using a sports metaphor, Jesus “called” the shot before attempting it, and then Jesus “made” the shot.  Predicting that one would rise from the dead and then actually doing it, should silence the skeptics.  So, now we must consider whether the story of Jesus’ resurrection is true and genuine.

The resurrection is an event in history that has baffled those who wish to refute it.  When the early Christians said that Jesus rose from the dead, unbelievers could have denied the fact.  As the early Church spread the gospel message, they challenged skeptics with the question: “If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, where is the body?”  After all, an easy way to silence the early Christians would have been to produce the dead, rotting corpse of Jesus.  History shows that such a thing did not take place.  Not only did the early leaders of Christianity point to the empty tomb, they also said that this resurrection was seen by many people.  Many of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection were still alive as the New Testament was being written.  The challenge was: “Check our story out and see!”

Getting back to Thomas' story, we should all take comfort knowing that having questions and doubts is not fatal.  It is important to understand that the Christian faith can be defended.  We can work through our questions.  Growing in the faith is a process that God blesses.  Keep looking up!