Have you ever been told not to doubt? What is doubt and are you living in it? Doubt is that feeling of uncertainty, it is a disbelief that something may or may not be true. It is a lack of confidence in someone or something. Thomas was the disciple that was not in the upper room when Jesus first appeared to them as a group in John 20:24. In verse 25, they tell Thomas about seeing Jesus, and he doesn’t believe them. This pessimist wanted his own proof. He wanted to put his hands in the scars from the crucifixion.
John 20:24-25 “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples, therefore, said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
In my opinion, most have been too harsh on Thomas. If we look at all we know about him, we find that he is pessimistic but that outlook does not hamper his devotion to Jesus. In John chapter 11, the disciples and Jesus had left Jerusalem because the Jews sought to kill Jesus. In John 10:40, we find that they went away beyond the Jordon and Jesus was still preaching and multitudes were believing. Note, wherever we are, and for whatever reason, we are still to be a witness for Christ. These men were in danger of losing their lives, but it didn’t stop them, it just changed their direction. Their passion for Christ pushed them to witness wherever they landed. Thomas was in the middle of doing whatever he could possibly do to promote Jesus. He shows His deep love in John 11:16. Jesus had received the message that Lazarus was sick and near death. He tells his disciples that they will be going to Judaea again. Immediately they begin to remind him that it is dangerous, and they try to convince him not to go. They all feared that Jesus’ death was imminent if he returned to the region.
John 11:7-8 “Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
As they feared for Jesus’ life and their own. Some must have decided they couldn’t risk going back because Thomas speaks up and says: “let us also go, that we may die with Him.” He loved Jesus so much that the thought of being away from Him was more than He could bear. He would rather die with Him than live without Him.
John 11:16 “Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Was he doubting Jesus was in control of the situation? Yes, he was, but even in the face of his pessimistic attitude, he had the courage to be loyal. His main goal was to be with Jesus wherever that may be. He wouldn’t allow his devotion to be dampened by the circumstances.
Thomas again speaks up in John 14:5. Jesus is telling them he will be leaving them, but He will be going to prepare a place for them and there they will be with Him also. Thomas is still concerned about the separation. Thomas says to Jesus we don’t know where you are going, so how will we know how to get there. Again, Thomas’s main concern is staying with Jesus.
John 14:2-5 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?”
Next, we see Thomas after the resurrection. As I stated earlier the disciples were in the upper room and Jesus appears to them, but Thomas was not with them. We don’t know for sure why he was not there, but it is very possible he was mourning and would rather be alone. His personality expresses itself many times in pessimism and that may have led him into a deep depression. His worst fears had come to pass, and his hope was gone. He was not in the mood to socialize. When the disciples told him of seeing the Lord, he wouldn’t allow himself to believe them. He wanted proof.
All the disciples had doubts because they couldn’t understand what was happening. In Mark 16:10-11, when Mary Magdalene told the disciples she had seen Jesus they didn’t believe either. When the disciples on the road to Emmaus walked with Him, they had walked a long distance before they realized it was Jesus. Thomas may have doubted more, but he also seemed to sorrow more.
It was eight days later when Jesus appears to the disciples again, and this time Thomas was there. Jesus tells him to touch his hands and his side. Thomas’s statement says much about how Thomas felt. He addresses Jesus as “my Lord and my God.” Jesus was more than a friend to Thomas he was truly his Master. This is the God-man that Thomas loved so much he wanted to die with him.
John 20:27-28 “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”
Are you a “doubting Thomas?” Do you really believe all that God’s word says? If you do, it should cause you to be a great witness for Him, not fearing what man will say, but fearing what will happen to them if they do not listen. If we believe in all His promises, our whole outlook on life and death will be Christ-centered. True belief causes us to push forward and we will be optimistic, hopeful, and joyful. Worry and doubt will be gone. Stop doubting and believe!
