Understanding the Twelve-Thomas

“5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:5-6

We have reached the last disciple, and I thought it was only fitting to end on this specific disciple because he was the reason that I wanted to start this series. Many know him as Doubting Thomas, and it is true that he is often seen questioning Jesus. But is this really all there is to him? Is one question after believing that all hope is lost enough to change his previous actions? To find out, let us look at Thomas.

Apart from being listed as one of the disciples, Thomas is not mentioned in the books of Matthew, Mark, or Luke. His main appearance is in the book of John, where we first get a glimpse into his personality. “8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” 12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him. 16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” John 11:8-16. In this passage, Jesus had received notice that Lazarus was ill and close to death. The disciples mistakenly believe that Lazarus will get better, and therefore, there is no reason for Jesus to return to a place where they had so recently sought to kill Him. Once Jesus corrects this idea, He leaves to go to Bethany, where we see Thomas stating that they should go and die with Him. I have heard some state that this comment comes across as sarcastic and almost flippant, as if Thomas has simply resigned himself to the fact that he is willingly walking to his death. However, let us consider that for a moment. The group had only just left Bethany, escaping those seeking to kill Jesus, and it is to this place that they are returning. Thomas was under no false idea of what the danger was that awaited them, and yet, he still followed Christ, knowing that he was walking to his death. This was a man of great faith!

The next occurrence of Thomas is from John 14, in which Jesus is telling the disciples that He will soon be crucified, but it is so that He may go and prepare a place for all those who come to place their faith in the work of Jesus on the cross. In this passage, we see that Thomas is asking Jesus how they can go where He is going if they do not know the way. This shows that Thomas had a close relationship with Jesus to feel comfortable in asking questions.

Finally, we see the passage that earned him the current nickname of Doubting Thomas. John 20 depicts Jesus appearing to the disciples after His death and resurrection, except Thomas was not there. Scripture does not dictate what Thomas was doing and only shows him stating that “So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25b, and this is where we see Thomas earn his nickname. However, I feel that it is important to consider that Thomas and the other disciples had just witnessed the death of the Messiah. I am sure that more than just Thomas doubted if Jesus was the One who scripture shows would be the savior of the world. Based on what we have seen of Thomas, I imagine that he was the type of person who was very literal. He needed physical proof in order to believe; however, I do not believe that this is a trait solely to him. I know in my own life and in others that we have asked God to give us a clear sign for His direction for us.

Like the other disciples, Thomas was martyred for his faith. However, it is ironic that the man who became known for doubting was the man who spread the gospel the farthest, since he shared the gospel all the way to India. For the believers today, he serves to show that we need to be strong in our faith in the face of challenges. We need to have a close relationship with Jesus so that we can come to Him and ask for His direction and guidance. Finally, Thomas serves as a lesson that it is okay for us to ask for a clear sign of what God has for us.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex