Searching For Answers
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said 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.”
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
Insight
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you just couldn’t believe what someone said? It may just be me, but I seem to have a little bit of skepticism when it comes to big elaborate stories. Someone will tell me about a fish they caught, and I can’t help but think, was it REALLY that big? Or someone will tell a story about a trip they went on and I will think, did all that REALLY happen?
So, Thomas is one of the people in the Bible I relate to most easily. For whatever reason, I have a hard time believing all the things. I’m sure there are some nuggets about trust and fear linked to why I often lead with skepticism, but regardless I completely understand Thomas. So, I want to look a little deeper into Thomas’s encounter with Jesus from today’s verses. We can easily gloss over the story and take away that we shouldn’t doubt and just trust God. However, this story has several layers.
The first layer is about Thomas. He was one of Jesus’ disciples. Thomas had spent a LOT of time with Jesus. He had witnessed the miracles firsthand and yet still had questions. What I love most is that Thomas leaned into his questions. He didn’t dismiss them and pretend to know it all, but he also didn’t live in his doubt. Thomas pushed through to try to find answers. So, when all of Thomas’ friends had seen Jesus after his death and told him about the resurrected Christ, Thomas responded how I probably would have…I don’t know guys, did you REALLY see the marks on him? Are you sure it was REALLY him? I don’t think I believe you.
The next layer is how Jesus responds. Jesus isn’t mad or angry at Thomas. He doesn’t banish him or punish him. He meets Thomas where he is and answers his questions. He proves that he really is Jesus, the one who had died on the cross and was now raised from the dead. Jesus does not reject our doubts. Isaiah 55 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” God KNOWS there are going to be things we don’t understand. He KNOWS we will never know all the answers. When we have doubts, we must allow them to deepen our faith as we continue to search for answers instead of staying stuck in our questions.
Thomas often gets a bad rep, but I believe he shines a light on the many questions we all have and encourages us to lean into those. We aren’t called to do life alone, so what if we found other believers who we could share our doubts with? What if our doubts caused us to dive in and think deeper to find those answers? I believe silent doubts rarely find answers, nor do they often move beyond a doubt. So, instead of shaking our head at Thomas’ doubt, let us look to him as an example. God isn’t angry at our doubts and questions, he is eager to meet us when we begin looking for answers.
Reflection
When you have doubts do you tend to lean in or dismiss them?
What is one step you could take to wrestle through some of your doubts?
Prayer
God, Thank you for the example of Thomas. Thank you for allowing me to come to You with my questions and know that I am still loved. I pray for community to walk through doubts with and truths to point me back to You in my questions. Lord, I pray that my doubts would help me move towards belief and clarity as I see You. Amen.
Katie Robinson, Children's Ministry Home Coordinator, wrote today's devotional.
