Even when I was a kid, I always thought Thomas got a "bad rap". Throughout history Thomas has always been "looked-down" on as the disciple who doubted the Lord's appearance. Really? So, all the other disciples accepted His appearance without a flinch?...I don't think so!
Look at John 20, starting at verse 19. Jesus makes His appearance to the disciples after His death, and says to them: "Peace be with you."...then it reads: "as He spoke, HE SHOWED THEM THE WOUNDS IN HIS HANDS AND HIS SIDE." Then the Scripture writes "they were filled with joy when they saw the Lord."
Now, in verse 21 Jesus says it again: "Peace be with you....". Why did Jesus say it twice? Could it have been the disciples were a little rattled with all the events going on (which is understandable)?... and remember, they too didn't believe some of things they were hearing.
Thomas was not there at this meeting...should he have been?...I don't know.
Then , in verse 26 of John 20, Jesus appears again to the disciples...and this time Thomas was with them. Jesus opened with the same greeting: "Peace be with you", and it seems He directly addressed Thomas and had him check His hands and His side, and that is when Thomas responded: "My Lord and My God!"
In verse 29, Jesus speaks directly to Thomas...the Scriptures read: "He told him." It does not imply He rebuked him, or He criticized him for his apparent lack of faith...He just told him.
My impression is this: Jesus was saying to Thomas...and I have to think He was speaking to all the disciples...simply because they had done the same...checked out His hands and side.
Jesus says in verse 29: " Thomas, you are fortunate because you see me...face to face...there are others who will believe in Me without having the same grace that you have...they will believe in Me without ever having seen Me."
That was it! He didn't rebuke Thomas...He didn't make Thomas "an example" to others..He just spoke clear and blunt to Thomas...and personally, I think Thomas liked the "point blank" way Jesus addressed him.
In John 11, Jesus was getting ready to raise Lazarus from the dead. In verse 7, Jesus says to His disciples, "Let's go back to Judea (to raise Lazarus)." The disciples response?..."Are you kidding me?...the Jewish leaders there are trying to kill you!...Are YOU going back there again?"
In latter part of verse 14, Jesus says to the disciples "...Come, let's go see him (Lazarus)."
Now at that point, the disciples seemed quite reluctant to go with Jesus... except for one disciple who gave them the encouragement to go: "Let's go!...even if it means to die with Him!"....Those were the words of...Thomas! That doesn't sound like a doubter to me!
And of course, this is my favorite of Thomas comments. In John 14, Jesus is cuing in on His death and Resurrection in verses 1-3. Then, in verse 4 Jesus says: "...and you will know the way I am going."
Thomas then makes a very blunt, yet honest statement, replying to Jesus on knowing the way.
Thomas responds: "No, we don't know where You are going, and if we don't know where You are going, how will we know where we are going?"
To me...that is classic! You just got to love this guy...Thomas! I think he was just one of those "down to earth" guys who liked to "put the things on the table" plain and simple. Honestly, I bet the parables Jesus illustrated to the crowds simply drove Thomas "nuts".
And here is the thing: the statement Thomas made in regard to "knowing where they were going", help to set up Jesus in making one of His most repeated sayings ...of all time!
In John 14:6 Jesus responds to Thomas's honest concern and comment by saying this: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father...except through Me. "
I think Thomas, although not mentioned alot as compared to some of the other disciples, made the best of his "appearances" in the New Testament.
Did Thomas have doubt about Jesus being Risen?...sure he did...he even said he would unless certain conditions were met. But...he wasn't alone. So did the other disciples.
I think Jesus loved Thomas because He knew Thomas was strong...and could take anything that was "thrown at him".
Did you ever hear about Peter, and how some people have commented about his "little faith" when he walked on the water?...Really...was it really "little faith"?....ok...I will leave that alone...at least for now."
Well, wait, let me address this thought on Peter in a "Thomas" sort of way: "When you experienced walking on water, how far did you get?"
Look at John 20, starting at verse 19. Jesus makes His appearance to the disciples after His death, and says to them: "Peace be with you."...then it reads: "as He spoke, HE SHOWED THEM THE WOUNDS IN HIS HANDS AND HIS SIDE." Then the Scripture writes "they were filled with joy when they saw the Lord."
Now, in verse 21 Jesus says it again: "Peace be with you....". Why did Jesus say it twice? Could it have been the disciples were a little rattled with all the events going on (which is understandable)?... and remember, they too didn't believe some of things they were hearing.
Thomas was not there at this meeting...should he have been?...I don't know.
In verse 29, Jesus speaks directly to Thomas...the Scriptures read: "He told him." It does not imply He rebuked him, or He criticized him for his apparent lack of faith...He just told him.
My impression is this: Jesus was saying to Thomas...and I have to think He was speaking to all the disciples...simply because they had done the same...checked out His hands and side.
Jesus says in verse 29: " Thomas, you are fortunate because you see me...face to face...there are others who will believe in Me without having the same grace that you have...they will believe in Me without ever having seen Me."
That was it! He didn't rebuke Thomas...He didn't make Thomas "an example" to others..He just spoke clear and blunt to Thomas...and personally, I think Thomas liked the "point blank" way Jesus addressed him.
In John 11, Jesus was getting ready to raise Lazarus from the dead. In verse 7, Jesus says to His disciples, "Let's go back to Judea (to raise Lazarus)." The disciples response?..."Are you kidding me?...the Jewish leaders there are trying to kill you!...Are YOU going back there again?"
In latter part of verse 14, Jesus says to the disciples "...Come, let's go see him (Lazarus)."
Now at that point, the disciples seemed quite reluctant to go with Jesus... except for one disciple who gave them the encouragement to go: "Let's go!...even if it means to die with Him!"....Those were the words of...Thomas! That doesn't sound like a doubter to me!
And of course, this is my favorite of Thomas comments. In John 14, Jesus is cuing in on His death and Resurrection in verses 1-3. Then, in verse 4 Jesus says: "...and you will know the way I am going."
Thomas then makes a very blunt, yet honest statement, replying to Jesus on knowing the way.
Thomas responds: "No, we don't know where You are going, and if we don't know where You are going, how will we know where we are going?"
To me...that is classic! You just got to love this guy...Thomas! I think he was just one of those "down to earth" guys who liked to "put the things on the table" plain and simple. Honestly, I bet the parables Jesus illustrated to the crowds simply drove Thomas "nuts".
And here is the thing: the statement Thomas made in regard to "knowing where they were going", help to set up Jesus in making one of His most repeated sayings ...of all time!
In John 14:6 Jesus responds to Thomas's honest concern and comment by saying this: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can come to the Father...except through Me. "
I think Thomas, although not mentioned alot as compared to some of the other disciples, made the best of his "appearances" in the New Testament.
Did Thomas have doubt about Jesus being Risen?...sure he did...he even said he would unless certain conditions were met. But...he wasn't alone. So did the other disciples.
I think Jesus loved Thomas because He knew Thomas was strong...and could take anything that was "thrown at him".
Did you ever hear about Peter, and how some people have commented about his "little faith" when he walked on the water?...Really...was it really "little faith"?....ok...I will leave that alone...at least for now."
Well, wait, let me address this thought on Peter in a "Thomas" sort of way: "When you experienced walking on water, how far did you get?"
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