Articles
Doubting Thomas
If you are a young person, you might not know what a 'doubting Thomas' is. It was a phrase used some when I was younger, but that was decades ago. We don't hear it much anymore.
John Chapter 20 has the most descriptive account of the activities of Jesus after He was resurrected from the dead. One of His disciples named Thomas had not seen Jesus yet, as some of the other disciples had, and when they told him Jesus was alive and well, he doubted them and said, "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.” Thomas had doubts. So when people call someone a 'doubting Thomas' it is because they don't believe something unless they can put an eye on it, and touch it themselves, in other words, they won't accept it until it is proved positive to them.
Thomas got his proof! It was a week after Thomas said that, when they were all together again. They were behind closed and locked doors, and Jesus came and stood among them and said to them all, "peace be with you". Interestingly enough, there is no mention of what if anything Thomas said when he first saw Jesus. Remember, Jesus was not with them when Thomas had said he would not believe unless he could put his finger in the nail holes, and his hand in Jesus' side.
Thomas sees Jesus, but does he still doubt? He's about to lose all doubt! Jesus proceeds to look at Thomas and use his own words by saying, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Not only was Thomas shown Jesus' wounds, and able to touch them and see them, but Jesus made Thomas aware that He knew of Thomas' doubt, and quoted his own words back to him.
Thomas did believe, whole heartedly and exclaimed "My Lord and my God!” Now, Thomas was convinced.
But we can't verify Jesus in the same physical bodily manner that Thomas did. He will not stand before us, and show us His hands and feet and the scar on His side in such a way we can reach out and physically touch them. We must believe everything about Jesus on faith.
Yes, those of us who have faith and who believe are confident there is sufficient evidence and "proof" of Jesus to believe in and follow Him, otherwise we would not do so. I for one, am absolutely convinced, and I believe there is an abundance of evidence to prove what I believe from history, and the Word of God which I believe is also true and reliable and easily verified. We have multiple eye witness accounts to substantiate our belief.
In 2 Cor 5:7, Paul described his stance on Jesus, and it's ours today as well, "For we live by faith, not by sight." We can't doubt!
Jesus can be seen by anyone who is diligently looking for Him. He is in plain view. In fact, scripture says that faith is required to please God, and that we must come to Him believing that He is, and that He will reward such seekers, but He says diligence is required. (Heb 11:6)
Yet many don't believe. To them we use the words of Jesus to Thomas and say, "Stop doubting and believe." Jesus followed up with Thomas by saying, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus can be seen, not physically by our eyes in a bodily form like Thomas saw Him, but with scripture, through secular history, by reading all the eye witness accounts of Him, and by God opening up our hearts through our belief and faith in Him.
Today, are you like Thomas? Are you doubting when others have seen Jesus and told you about Him? Stop doubting! Look for the evidence. Believe! If you haven't seen Jesus yet, He is in plain view if you are diligently looking. He can be easily seen and recognized. Let us help you come to know Him.
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