We are first introduced to Thomas in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke when Jesus designates the twelve out of His many disciples as apostles. Luke, in his gospel, gives us the most detailed account of the three. Luke 6:12-16, “12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”
From this point on, Thomas is no longer mentioned in any of these three gospels. It is John, in his gospel, who tells us of the only five of the six events that mentions Thomas. The sixth and last account in the New Testament that mentions Thomas is found in Acts 1:13, “13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
In spite of such little information we have about what Thomas said and or did, there is much we can learn from him that can relate and apply to ourselves and or other believers in Christ.
The first event that John tells us about what Thomas said was when Jesus’ good friend Lazarus had died. John 11:14-16, 14 “So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Some consider Thomas’ remarks in verse 16 off point because he did not understand what Jesus said in verse 15. Others consider Thomas’ comment sarcastic, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Because just a short time before as we read in John 10: 31-33, 39 the Jews wanted to take Jesus’ life. “31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me? 33 “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”, “39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.” This was such a frightening event that it was not forgotten and was acknowledged by all the disciples when Jesus mentioned He wanted to return to Judea because of the death of Lazarus. John 11:7-8, “7 Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”
If Thomas’ remarks were sarcastic, he was acknowledging that all of them, along with Jesus, were going to experience from the Jews the same fate as Lazarus, death. However, it is also possible that Thomas’ comments were not expressing extreme pessimism but expressing from his mind the very probable reality of the outcome of going back to Judea, which was being killed. Some might consider Thomas a pragmatist, “a person who is oriented toward the success or failure of a particular line of action, thought.”
Thomas was possibly also considering or looking at the situation from a practical point of view based on recent past experiences. He possibly saw that obliging to Martha and Mary’s request was not the best thing to do.
However, most importantly as we can clearly see that he did not comprehend or acknowledge God’s purposes in this situation as expressed by Jesus’ words. John 11:4, “When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 7 Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
The next time Thomas is mentioned by John is the last night Jesus was with the apostles, the night He was arrested. Again, as before, we hear the words of a very practical or pragmatic thinking person. John 14:1-7, 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
It is important to realize a particular and common characteristic of many (but not all) who have the tendency of being pragmatic, that when they hear and try to understand many Biblical spiritual principles or concepts and statements from their pragmatic point of view, for them much of what they are hearing just doesn’t make sense. It can be challenging and difficult, but not impossible for a pragmatic thinking person to have the correct discernment and accept many spiritual principles and concepts by faith. This is very evident in the next portion of scripture that John tells us about Thomas. John 20:24-31, “24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 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 it.” 26 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!” 27 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.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John, as he usually does, explains to us in detail the background of what happened with the context of the statements made. We know from scripture that Thomas did not witness the crucifixion of Jesus, John 19:25, “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” We also know from what John tells us that he was not with the apostles and others the night of Jesus’ resurrection when He appeared to them for the first time, John 20:24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”. We can only guess why Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to everyone. However, we always need to be careful not to add to scripture what was purposely not written. What is clear is his response to what the disciples told him, “25 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 it.”
What is the character of a person who would say something like this, adamant in their unbelief until they see and experience by touching physical proof? We must always remember that a person’s character is often displayed to others not only by their actions but also by the words that they speak. Jesus said something very important that can help us understand the source of Thomas’ words. Luke 6:45, “For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”
Looking ahead to Jesus’ words in verse 26b we read that Jesus identifies the symptom that Thomas’ words disclosed about his character, “Stop doubting and believe.” As was previously stated, it is very probable that Thomas by character was a pragmatic person, which in this particular situation he was expressing his heart of unbelief based only on the testimony of the others. In other words, unbelief can be a symptom of someone who is pragmatic, who does have enough evidence to satisfy their doubt. If Thomas was pragmatic in character this could have been the cause of his doubt that Jesus so clearly points out. Thomas’ doubt clearly was a hinderance and a stronghold he needed to overcome before he could believe the truth. The statements and experiences of his companions was not enough proof of Jesus’ resurrection, Thomas needed to experience for himself what others said and saw. This is precisely what Jesus did for Thomas eight days later.
Jesus knows our hearts, our character and knows exactly how to break through any and all hinderances and strongholds that would keep us from believing and experiencing His truth in our lives. It was because of Jesus’ omniscience that Jesus knew what Thomas had said a week prior to their encounter that day. And it was also because of Jesus’ love for Thomas He used the very words that Thomas spoke eight days before to break through his doubt. 27 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.” The words that Jesus spoke to Thomas were not a rebuke but of compassion and comprehension of what was keeping Thomas from believing. Jesus did not rebuke Thomas for not believing the others, what Jesus was saying to Thomas was, “I heard you, here I am, here is the proof you need to believe.” Words of compassion and encouragement will always accomplish more than words of rebuke that express our disappointment. We see this breakthrough expressed in Thomas’ very short “acclamation of belief” in verse 28, Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”.
As a result of Thomas’ overcoming his possible pragmatic skepticism and his response to Christ’s challenge, all believers in Christ’s resurrection since then who have made a confession and accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord of their lives, are mentioned and included to experience the blessing that comes with believing. John 20:29, “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.“
Pastor John
