“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

 Thomas was a dedicated disciple—a man of integrity and conviction. From the day Jesus chose him as one of twelve apostles, Thomas had been a dedicated but careful student of his Rabbi and Master. His faith grew steadily, and though he didn’t get it completely, he showed steadfast allegiance when it mattered.

Consider the day the messengers came from Mary and Martha (Jn. 11:1-3). “Lord, the one you love is sick” (3). Jesus waited two days before responding (6). His disciples protested. Why would He want to go where the Jews almost previously lynched Him? When their discussion heated, Thomas said to his colleagues,

“Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (16).

His dedication and zeal showed in his willingness to die with His Master—a remarkable quality.

 Again, let’s peak through the Upper Room on the day Judas betrayed Jesus. A hush fell around the table when Jesus talked about His home-going (Jn. 14:1-4), and sadness marked their faces. When Jesus implied the disciples knew where He was going, our friend Thomas boldly spoke out.

“Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way (5)?

Thomas’s bold interjection led to one of the most important, if not the most significant, statements of Jesus:

“I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (6).

Now, that is the mark of a man who would miss anything the Master said. For that had become his passion and life.

How then does a faithful disciple like Thomas deal with the crushing blow of Calvary? When the Man he grew to admire and trust as powerful and invulnerable—the Man who had exercised authority over demons, nature, sicknesses, and even raised the dead, had died forsaken on a wooden cross; how could Thomas believe again? How could he hope again? 

All of us have peculiar ways of dealing with our disillusions. Some declare war with God, and even the mention of His name is intolerable. Others retreat from fellowship, nursing their wounds in private for a while. Yet others stagger along, broken and wounded, but with deceptive strength. They don’t know what to believe anymore. Still, they display a bright facade. Whatever way they deal with it, they are hurting and need healing.

Thank God for Christ Jesus! He mercifully gave Thomas the evidence he needed to believe again (26-28). With joy, Thomas declared,

“My Lord and my God!” (28).

His peculiarity had almost driven him to the far side of disbelief. Only the grace of God sustained him.

And don’t we all need it?

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you now and forever, amen!