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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
In Defense of "Doubting Thomas"
You remember Thomas, don’t you? He was the apostle of Jesus who was somewhere else when Jesus appeared to His apostles after His resurrection. Thomas is the one who refused to believe Jesus had been there, saying
“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,” John 20:25.
He was the weak, doubting, apostle. Or was he? His name is mentioned only twelve times in the Bible, compared with Peter, who is mentioned over 150 times. Could we have misjudged Thomas?
Who was Thomas? And was he weak? Hesitant? Doubting? The term, “doubting Thomas” is quite well known and used to describe him, but the Bible never uses it in this way. There may be good reason to take a second look.
Why was Thomas absent when Jesus appeared? Is sin involved in his absence? In the context, there is nothing to explain his absence, therefore we do not know.
Why did Thomas reject the testimony of his fellow disciples? Was their word not sufficient? Did Thomas not trust them? Or was he merely asking to see the same evidence they had seen, John 20:20? Were they doubtful before seeing and hearing? We don’t know.
How strong was Thomas as one of Jesus’ disciples? Some would have you think him a poor choice as an apostle, based upon this event.
Yet, in the narrative of the raising of Lazarus from the grave, Thomas made an amazingly bold statement. Death was a constant threat to them (see John 7:1, 25; 11:53), and to be in a public place in Judaea could be dangerous. The apostles knew of previous attempts to kill Jesus, John 11:8. But it was the “weak” one, the “doubting” Thomas who made the following bold statement: “Let us also go, that we may die with him,” John 11:16.
Is this the cowardly image, the “doubting” character usually used to describe Thomas? No, but instead boldness and courage and loyalty.
Some time later, when Jesus was arrested in the Garden, all the apostles ran, hid, or “followed afar off,” Matthew 26:58, Mark 14:50. If there was weakness among Jesus’ followers, it was not exclusively found in Thomas
Seeking the Evidence
One very important point that may have a bearing on this entire event is that Thomas asked for evidence, and evidence was given. Some say Christians are innately superstitious, and will accept something as true without any evidence. To put it bluntly, Christians are incapable of rational thought; therefore they are irrational. “All it takes,” some say, “is for a spell-binding preacher to convince Christians of the deity, the miracles and resurrection of Jesus.”
Unfortunately, there are too many who are just that, intimidated by one who is persuasive, failing to see the need of examining the facts. It was Jesus who encouraged the Jews to “search the scriptures...” John 5:39. Paul commended those Christians who did not just “take his word” in a matter, but who “…received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so,” Acts 17:11.
No, Christians must not be superstitious fools, but must be sure by seeking the evidence, examining the facts, then reaching conclusions in a matter. That is a sound definition of a rational person: “One who examines the evidence before reaching a conclusion.”
Thomas, having heard of Jesus’ meeting with the other apostles, was told of their seeing Him and His wounds. Is it not possible that Thomas merely wanted to know for sure that Jesus was risen before going out into the world to face threats, ridicule and even death?
Yes, Thomas had been “faithless” instead of “believing.” But when he saw the evidence and examined the facts, Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God.”
There is much we do not know in this context, but one thing is known: when Thomas saw and touched Him, Jesus said he had “believed.” When He spoke of those who would become Christians by obeying the things “written,” they also are said to have “believed.” Those who did see and those who did not are described by the same word; they “believed.”
Therefore knowledge and faith are not “mutually exclusive,” but are “mutually supportive.” You and I can have the same knowledge/faith as Thomas did, though we do not have opportunity to “touch…see” Jesus. As seen in John 6:69, it is possible to “believe and know” that Jesus is the Son of the living God. Let us all learn from Thomas.
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“Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name,”
“Faith without reason leads to superstition; Reason without faith leads to cynicism.”
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He Has Nothing and Everything
Whom do you consider rich?
Often when one is asked this question the response is the name of some movie star, pro-athlete, or some other famous individual. But from a Christian’s point of view, what should our focus be when asked this question? A few words spoken by King Solomon are worthy of our consideration on this subject:
“There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.” (Proverbs 13:7NKJV)
This statement is what is known as a paradox. That means it appears that it could not be true at first glance, but with deeper investigation, it makes perfect sense. How could a rich person have nothing and how could a poor person have great riches? The answer is that this verse is simply showing the contrast between the physical and the spiritual. A good example can be seen in the book of Revelation between the church at Smyrna, which though in poverty, was rich spiritually (Revelation 2:9), and the church at Laodicea, which thought it was rich and had need of nothing, was yet poor and miserable (Rev. 3:17).
Jesus Himself said, “…a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). The vast amount of things we have while on this earth does not determine the value of our lives. We can think of countless people who “…are mindful to be rich…” but only “…fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts…” and end up living in the depths of spiritual poverty (1 Timothy 6:9).
“Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5). How true it is that usually the poor in wealth are the richest in faith toward God because they understand that they have need of God. Let us all consider our lives and see where our riches lie. We must grow to the attitude Paul had when he spoke of himself and those with him that ministered unto the Corinthians: “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things,” (2 Corinthians 6:10).
Kyle Story
(first year SWSBS Student)
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