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 – John 20:25

 

Don’t blame Thomas too much. Though he trusted Jesus and remained faithful to Him, the events of the week had left him disillusioned and confused. A bold and courageous disciple, Thomas pushed Jesus to declare to the world: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6). In solidarity with Jesus, Thomas encouraged his colleagues to go to Judea with the Master, “that we may die with Him” (11:18). That’s the man the world has branded “Doubting Thomas.” Not fair; but who said the world knows what it claims to understand. Who has never doubted the unseen until it became visible?

Yes, Thomas refused to believe the other disciples’ report that Jesus had appeared 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,” he said (20:28). As the saying goes, “Once bitten, twice shy.” Thomas was not going to be disappointed a second time. His first commitment to Jesus had suffered enough already as the Master had allowed Himself to be arrested and killed; so he demanded evidence. Thomas shielded himself with skepticism until a week later, our gracious Master gave him the proof he sought. “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (20:27).  That was it! Thomas was sold for the last time, and his worship flowed like a river to Jesus: “My Lord and my God!” (28).

Doubt is not exclusive to Thomas. Abraham, Gideon, Elijah, Zachariah, and John the Baptist all doubted at some point. It started with The Fall (Gen. 3:1-19). In the Garden of Eden, Satan rolled a cloud of doubt over Eve’s mind and caused her to see God in a different light other than her innocence (4-5). Instead of God’s love, Eve sensed hatred and shared it with Adam.

It is the same today. Instead of God’s love through Jesus, people embrace hatred and discord. Instead of faith in Christ Jesus, people think they can work their way to heaven. Grace is too simple for them. But Jesus served the sentence of humanity on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins (Rm. 6:23). Christ’s resurrection is heaven’s “Amen!” to Calvary. He satisfied the full requirements of God’s justice, and appeased His wrath. We are justified through faith in Christ and at peace with God (Rm.5:1). We who have trusted our lives to Him, have hope for eternity, as we look forward to His return (1 Thess. 4: 13-18). All these and much more have been made possible because Christ overpowered death and rose from the grave.

That’s the cause for our celebration today. We rejoice because our Savior lives. And, because He lives, we can face tomorrow. Faith has replaced doubt and hope has trumped despair.

I invite you to come and share our joy and hope in Christ today. For, if you allow doubt to cloud the Son of God away from you, there is nothing left but God’s wrath. So, throw doubt out of the window, and say with Thomas to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” And He will save you (Rm. 10:9-10,13).

Happy Easter!