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| John Granville Gregory ~ The Incredulity of Thomas |
Here is a contemporary depiction of Thomas and his friends examining the side-wound of the Risen Jesus. Wearing glasses and nice leather jackets, these young men are today. Jesus has a grip on the examining boy's wrist. Maybe he's saying: You can't be a sensation seeker (some religious folks are) and I won't let you go until you respond to me one way or the other.
But poor Thomas, we're so unfair to him. We think we know or understand, our responses so simplistic and superficial, slapping on cliche-labels like: Doubting Thomas. Nothing more to say. Done deal.
As if we'd do better than he. Thomas' friend was brutally killed on Friday and a few days later the other apostles said, "Some women of our company reported Jesus is alive." Mind you, in the ancient world a woman was never considered a credible witness. And so yes, Thomas has some trouble accepting this resurrection-news and asks for a sign.
But we constantly ask for signs and in situations not nearly as grave as the one Thomas is experiencing: Which job should I take?...give me a sign. Which boyfriend/girlfriend should I go with?...give me sign. Will I be successful in the future?...give me a sign. Are my relatives safe on the other side...give me a sign. Should I get married or should I be a nun?...give me a sign. Poor God, how we test him!
Maybe so many Christians are themselves so unbelieving of who Jesus is that they miss the fundamental faith-statement Thomas makes: My Lord and my God - and instead hone in on what we perceive to be lacking, "I won't believe unless..." Some people seem to imagine Thomas asks for the sign with a testy attitude.
Thomas wants to believe. He's full of goodwill and loves Jesus. And that's why Jesus gives him the sign of his visible wounds, unlike the Pharisees who really don't believe and don't like Jesus, to whom Jesus refuses a sign.
The wounds Thomas saw didn't cause him to believe. Thomas had faith in Jesus and touching the wounds of the Risen Christ released his powerful expression of faith. Questioning and struggling don't mean we reject belief or are spiritually defective.
In a world such as ours today I would say, persisting in faith through the struggles and doubts pleases Jesus, who surely notices. So let's be done with this silly and unkind label we slap on Thomas and start a new trend, referring to him as Believing Thomas, and ask him for help from heaven in a very difficult world.
Thomas wants to believe. He's full of goodwill and loves Jesus. And that's why Jesus gives him the sign of his visible wounds, unlike the Pharisees who really don't believe and don't like Jesus, to whom Jesus refuses a sign.
The wounds Thomas saw didn't cause him to believe. Thomas had faith in Jesus and touching the wounds of the Risen Christ released his powerful expression of faith. Questioning and struggling don't mean we reject belief or are spiritually defective.
In a world such as ours today I would say, persisting in faith through the struggles and doubts pleases Jesus, who surely notices. So let's be done with this silly and unkind label we slap on Thomas and start a new trend, referring to him as Believing Thomas, and ask him for help from heaven in a very difficult world.
