John 20:24-29
"Now Thomas, 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 it.’ 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 (NRSVUE)
How many times do we doubt unless we have solid, physical proof? The disciples told Thomas they had seen Jesus alive after his resurrection, but Thomas doubted. The disciples were not lying to Thomas, but no matter what they told Thomas, he would not believe unless he personally saw and touched Jesus. You may have heard the following story, told in similar ways, yet the outcome is the same. A man was stuck on his roof with rising flood waters surrounding him. He prayed to God for help. A rowboat came by to save him, then a motorboat, and finally a helicopter. Each time he was invited to “Get in, we will save you!” Each time the man said: “No thanks; I prayed to God and He will save me.” Shortly after, the man died in the flood. When he saw God, he asked, “Why did you not save me?” God’s reply was, “I tried to three times.”
How often have we rejected the words of those whom God has sent to us? Do we ask God for something but if the answer does not come in the form we expect, do we believe our prayer or plea has not been answered? Do we expect the solution to come in a big way, in an “aha” moment? God’s plan is not always our plan, and God uses many means and many people to reach out to us. We may be quick to condemn Thomas’ lack of faith, but haven’t we questioned those who spoke to us about God?
The disciples witnessed many miracles during Jesus’ ministry, but seeing him come back to life after his crucifixion, walking through unopened doors, would be difficult to grasp even though they saw it with their own eyes. The disciples told Thomas what they had witnessed, but he demanded physical proof; their words alone were not enough. That is not surprising. Today, we have the history of Jesus’ words and acts in the Bible which many of us have studied for our whole life, so it is easier for us to believe that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord, the son of God.
Biblical research tells us that Thomas was a spiritual man who was searching for the truth and was not ashamed to question things. Jesus did not rebuke Thomas’ doubting, but he would certainly rebuke disbelief. The Bible says it is “better to doubt out loud, than to disbelieve in silence.” Teaching school in the 1970’s was the beginning of the “why” movement for students in the classroom, and as teachers, we not only encouraged this, but celebrated it. Perhaps it is okay to ask the “whys” in our spiritual life, so long as we are open to listening for those who speak God’s truth to us.
Everything would be so much easier if we could just sit down for a physical one-on-one, face-to-face conversation with Jesus, like Thomas ultimately did. But we cannot doubt that God is present with us at all times. We can hear his words for us as we read our Bibles, as we listen to those he sends to speak his truth to us, and as we talk to him through prayer. Going back to the man on the rooftop, Jesus was reaching out to him by providing him time and again with people who wanted to help him. That story is a metaphor for one of the central ideas in this story - Jesus is with us and he will help us. That help may come in many different forms and we must be open to listening for it. And finally, prayer is vital!
Questions for Reflection:
- Can you think of moments you have asked the “whys” of life? Were you open to listening for the answers wherever they came from?
- Have you felt there were times in your life that Jesus has sent you helpers? Did you realize this at the time or in hindsight? What could you do to better recognize those people in your life that God has sent to help you?
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven,
I come to you and ask you to help me fulfill my desire to live by faith and not by sight. May my eyes be fixed on you and your words alone. May I be open to all of those whom you have sent to help me. In your name I pray. Amen!
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