John 20:24-29 – But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Eight days later His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.” Then He *said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
Poor Thomas has been had that handle, “Doubting Thomas”, hung on him for the last 2000 years. If we are really honest there is a little of that Doubting Thomas in all of us. You know the routine even if we don’t say it out loud, “I’m not gonna believe it unless I see it or experience it for myself”. That’s how it tends to be with just about all spiritual experiences, the natural man cannot and will not grasp spiritual things without spiritual revelation. That’s where Thomas’ story comes in, he was gathered with the other disciples a week after the resurrection when suddenly Jesus came walking into the room. It was really Him, Jesus was physically standing right in front of Thomas, Jesus really was alive!
What happened next is quite extraordinary, “Put your finger in the nail prints in My hands and put your hand in My side”, Jesus said. Thomas saw the resurrected Lord with the marks of the crucifixion in His body. He saw the scars where the crown of thorns had been, the curse of poverty was broken. He saw the stripes where the whips had torn the back of Jesus, by those stripes we are healed. He saw the hole in Jesus side, blood and water had flowed out from the place He was wounded by the spear, His broken heart heals our broken hearts. The nail marks were evidence redemption had been accomplished, our sins had been forgiven. If you sometimes feel like “Doubting Thomas” gather with some of the followers of Jesus, you will probably find them at church. Don’t be surprised when Jesus walks into the room.
