Thomas

I’ve been thinking about Thomas lately. Partly because he’s the disciple I relate so well to, partly because I was in charge of service this week & it was Thomas Sunday. The guy who gave the message did a great job. He usually does, but I actually remember some of what he said, which is unusual. You know how it is, you forget the sermon before Sunday lunch is over. But, between my affection for Tommy boy & being responsible for planning the service, some things stuck.

Here you have a guy who is, not really pessimistic (in my opinion anyway), but proof-driven for lack of a better term. He doesn’t accept everything at face value. Face it, none of the disciples did. They were all clueless & too stuck in this world to really understand the otherworldly that Jesus brought. Jesus tells them to feed the multitude. Instead of saying, “sure, we can do that”, they doubt. Where will they get the food? They don’t have enough money to buy that much food. How are they supposed to feed 5,000 people? Another time they’re in a boat & a huge storm comes up. They’re all terrified, & what’s Jesus doing? Sleeping! Where’s their faith there? Time & again the disciples don’t have enough faith in Jesus, yet Thomas is the one remembered as the doubter. I don’t see him as a doubter. Instead, I see him as the “prove it to me” type. He wants that proof, to see for himself that the resurrection is true. Belief on the unseen is one thing; but belief with unwavering proof, that’s what helped forge the Thomas who then utters the most powerful statement of faith in the Bible: “My Lord and my God!” None of the other disciples call Jesus that; only Thomas, the “doubter”. And because of that experience, he goes on to be a major force in expanding Christianity.

How many of us have a little bit of Thomas in us? Yes, I believe in God. Yes, I believe that Christ came, died and rose again. Yes I believe that his death was payment for the sins of everyone who was, is, and will come. But, I also want that proof. Miracles, signs and wonders, or just that feeling that God is with me, I want it. That’s what makes my belief stronger. And it’s that way with everyone. Think about it. If you never had a single experience that “proved” to you that God is real, would you believe in him? Really? No answered prayers, no miracles, no “burning in your soul”, nothing. Would you believe? Could you believe?