Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are – John Wooden
As Jesus was preparing to go back to Bethany to see Martha and Mary and raise Lazarus from the dead, his disciples said, “But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” (John 11:8-10)
All were afraid, except one. And it is the one whom we would least expect to show courage and rally his fellow disciples.
“Then Thomas, (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’” (John 11:16)
Besides Jesus himself, Thomas is probably the most disparaged good guy in all the New Testament. He will forever be remembered as the disciple who refused to believe that Jesus had arisen from the tomb (John 20:25). But it was also Thomas who asked arguably the most important question in all of the New Testament. And oddly enough, it was the only question we find that Thomas poses in all of Scripture.
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)
Thomas was confused. He truly didn’t know what Jesus was talking about. And in his honesty, he asked Jesus a question that would ultimately lead to one of the most recited verses in all of Scripture.
“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:5-7)
That day when Thomas told the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him,” it wasn’t said sarcastically (despite what some commentaries otherwise believe). Jesus was a marked man, the Jews wanted him dead. How interesting it is that the one disciple who would be known for doubting Jesus, and who bore a striking resemblance to Jesus (which was why he was often referred to as Didymus, or twin) would be the one disciple ready to die with him.
Was it not Peter who denied the Lord not once, not twice, but three times on the night of his betrayal? Although we recall Peter’s worst moment, in no way does it skew the favorable portrait that we often paint of Peter. When we think of Peter, we think of Jesus telling him, “You’re going to be the rock upon which my church will be built.”
And yet, Thomas is forever painted as the doubting disciple. And not because he had a history of doubting Jesus, but because he simply wanted to see the evidence for himself that day that Jesus had indeed arisen. We ignore that courageous moment that day when Thomas stepped up and declared to his fellow disciples, “Well then, let us go and die with our Lord.”
The Bible encourages us to not always go with our gut instincts or emotions sometimes, for they cannot always be trusted. Thomas reminds us that it’s not always bad to be skeptical about something. He reminds us that it’s good to seek answers from God, and the only way we get those answers is to ask Him.
And Thomas reminds us that being a loyal disciple of Jesus comes with enormous sacrifice. In fact, the one known as the doubting disciple would even give his life for Christ. There would be no church in India today were it not for this disciple forever remembered as a doubter. Thomas went there to share the Good News of Christ, and in 72 A.D. that’s where he would die, as one of the locals speared him to death.
So… don’t be frustrated if you don’t know all the answers. It’s okay to wrestle with our faith sometimes. It’s okay to approach God in prayer with what may seem like trivial questions.
Don’t be afraid to be a doubting Thomas. Because the truth is, he really wasn’t a doubter.
Thomas was a doer.
Former Blackout Artist 