Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “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.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:24-29

Thomas, or doubting Thomas as he has become known via tradition. He gets a bit of a bad rap, but is it really warranted?

Of course he’s not sure. Everyone else got to see Jesus and he didn’t. Thomas evidently knows a bit about social psychology and group think (before its time) and knows that a whole collective can easily be swayed to believe some rather ridiculous things. Jesus has called them sheep before – maybe that’s what they are…

Or so thinks Thomas. Wanting some evidence to bank your life on, is not so foolish after all, really.

Jesus response to Thomas’ questions is interesting though.

First, Jesus does provide Thomas with the evidence he wants. Jesus is not so lacking in compassion as to ignore that need. Jesus knows it’s a blocker to Thomas believing in the resurrection and he wants to remove that blocker.

Second, he doesn’t do it straight away. Jesus returns to the disciples again – a week later. Why Jesus delayed like this is unclear. Was there work he needed to do first that got in the way? Was there something Thomas needed to do or think before Jesus came and showed himself to Thomas? I don’t think we can ever truly know.

We can just know that Jesus waited a little while before returning.

Third, Jesus has words to say to Thomas. Jesus does tell Thomas to stop doubting, but in what tone of voice? We don’t know whether Jesus was speaking it in a very compassionately or in the style of a rebuke. It’s unclear. Also, Jesus uses Thomas lack of faith to provide a teaching point:

Believing is good, but believing without having seen brings a greater blessing.

Thomas’ lack of faith allows for a point to be made, and one that we can all take on board: God is looking for a people full of faith.

Faith. That’s all God is after. That is, in many ways, a relief. God isn’t worried about what fancy fashion I might wear. How strategic my ministry might be. How slick and sophisticated a sermon is or how many people are on the attendance list at the latest event.

God is not concerned by that. God is concerned about our levels of faith.

So, that’s all we need to worry about, and then receive the blessing.

Yours keeping the faith,

Alison