SermonStudio

John 20:24-29
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

COMMENTARY
Thomas is a true comfort to all of us who doubt. He knew that the place to be, even with his doubt, was with the believers, with those who had seen the Lord. All of us can readily identify and sympathize with Thomas. His declaration of faith in Jesus as the Messiah is the goal of our lives, too.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank you for picking Thomas as one of your disciples. His doubt is so much a part of each of us that we understand his reluctance to believe that you were back for good. It probably isn't fair to him to be primarily remembered as the one who doubted, but he represents all of us who were absent from that first gathering of the faithful.

Lord, we give you thanks for Thomas. He is like us today. We know what it's like to feel left out. Like him, we don't want to believe that you are there, among the gathered, when we are not -- talking, laughing, living, remembering. Like him, we want it all to happen when we are present. We don't want to be dependent upon witnesses. We especially don't want to be gullible. We want to see you, but not as some sort of imaginary being, or some sort of emotional high. We, like Thomas, want to tell those who are so sure of your presence, "Unless I see your wounded hands and side, forget it."

Lord, Thomas felt left out. We don't know why he couldn't be with them that night. Perhaps he had work to do. It doesn't matter. But, Lord, for you to come among them when he wasn't there had to hurt him deeply. He had to feel unimportant. He had to feel a sadness within, a regret, a longing so deep that all he could do was doubt. So we are glad that he said what he said. He said what we would say, but we are especially pleased that his words were remembered by delighted disciples, knowing within that you wouldn't let him fret for long. They had to view Thomas and his doubt with a loving smile.

Lord, you call those who believe without seeing "blessed." You are talking about us, but we don't always feel so blessed. Sometimes we would trade in a little of our blessedness for a clearer glimpse of your presence. Sometimes we want more than another's witness about you. Sometimes that smile on another's face, who claims to know you, looks more like a smirk than love. Knowing our own weaknesses, it is hard to see you in the weaknesses of others. It is hard to believe that they have an understanding of you that we don't yet have. And yes, it is very hard to believe that someday, someone may even see you in one of us!

Lord, all of the disciples saw you. None of them had to believe without seeing, as we do. All of them, sooner or later, were eyewitnesses. We get jealous of them, Lord, until the cost of seeing you is remembered. Almost all of them were martyred for you, and those that weren't probably were willing to be. They paid a dear price for being an eyewitness. As the years passed, and danger was near, they probably wanted to hide from you as we do, saying, "I'm not sure ... I don't remember it exactly ... It was a long time ago." You were not with them in the flesh for the rest of their days upon earth. In the end, all they had were memories and your Holy Spirit. In the end, they had to die with faith alone as companion.

Lord, Thomas said it all when he said, "My Lord and my God!" Not only were you worthy of service as Lord, you were worthy of worship as God. He knew you were the Messiah. He had the wisdom to undo his doubt with praise. He made no apology, just song. He chased shame away with joy. He gave you the honor and the glory and the power and swallowed his pride. He revealed your true identity to the world. He was first to name you Messiah.

Thank you, Lord, for Thomas and his doubt. Thank you for letting him be the one to name you rightly. May we also, despite our doubt, know you as Jesus the Christ, Messiah, the Savior of the world. Amen.