John 20: The Rumor Spreads

Thank God Thomas missed it.

He was an outspoken realist.  He didn’t believe in fairy tales and when anything else came up he didn’t believe or couldn’t understand, he didn’t mince words.  After the last supper they had shared together, Jesus spoke about how he was leaving but it wouldn’t be forever.  It was all very moving and poetic until Thomas interrupted to say none of this made any sense to him.  Thomas was that kind of guy. 

Days later, Jesus was dead, just as he’d said he would be.  Thomas was sure of it.  There was no doubt about it.  Then the thing nobody had imagined could ever happen did.  As his followers gathered in a crowded upper room with the door locked and shades drawn, scared to death they were next, Jesus suddenly appeared.  He said shalom and showed them his wounds, then asked if they had anything to eat.  Not long after he left.  Jesus was alive.  He was as real as they were. 

 But Thomas missed it.

When the others told Thomas what had happened, his reaction was just what you’d expect.  You’ve got to be kidding.  Unless Jesus came back so he could not only see his wounds but could touch them, then he would not, could not believe.  That day he doubted and forever after became Doubting Thomas.  Thank God for Thomas.

Thank God, because we all doubt.  In the setbacks and sorrows of daily life, we doubt that God is good.  Sometimes we doubt God is there at all.  We wonder if any of it’s true. 

Eight days later, Jesus came back.  This time Thomas was there.  As I read story, Thomas never touched him.  He didn’t need to.  He fell to his knees and expressed profound faith.

You and I will never have the chance to touch those hands.  We’re left with the record of eyewitnesses who saw first an empty tomb, then a risen Jesus.  And because of Thomas, we know some of these witnesses were skeptics.  They were not easily convinced – but they were convinced.  There’s no doubt about that.

Thank God Thomas missed it.

– Paul Abbott