Faith, fact or fiction?

April 19, 2020

Today is Sunday... again. "Again," is an interesting idea meaning a repeating of something. 

As John writes, there is a character who shows up who has become the byword for “doubt.” His name is Thomas. There is more to Thomas’ story than simple doubt. Let’s take a look at the first Sunday after the resurrection.

We first meet Thomas, in the Gospel of John, just before the drama surround Jesus raising Lazarus. Countering the fear of walking to certain death; Thomas encourages the other disciples, “Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.” [John 11:16 NLT]

The next time we see Thomas, he is the set up for one of the main truths about Jesus. “Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [John 14:5 NLT] Jesus has just announced His intentions of leaving the disciples and returning to retrieve them. Jesus promises, “…where I am you may be also.” [John 14:3c] In response to Thomas’ question, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” [John 14:6 NLT]

Thomas is a man of courage, willing to die with Jesus and willing to ask the “stupid” question. He is willing to follow Jesus to death. He is a deep thinker. Maybe these qualities have a dark side. Courage may be symptomatic of stubbornness and deep thinking may betray unwillingness to believe. I’m not advocating “not thinking.” The problem is arrogance; thinking we can puzzle out the truth WITHOUT recognizing some form of faith. Do you believe there is a London, England? If you do and have never been there, how do you know? You know because someone told you, and you believed them. You trusted their witness.

After the resurrection, Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus first appeared to the disciples. In their excitement; “They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” [John 20:25 NLT] I wonder if his doubt was directed at the messengers and not the message. After all, Thomas had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. 

Considering the messengers were afraid to go to Jerusalem because they feared death. Considering the messengers were afraid to ask the “stupid” question. Why believe them? That’s one of the mysteries of the church: God has put the message in the life, hands, and mouth of flawed people. Thankfully the power is not in the messenger. The power is in the one the message is about. It is Jesus who saves.

Thomas’ stubbornness, his unwillingness to believe, is exposed as nonsense. “Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” [John 20:26 – 27 NLT]

The word translated "faithless" (or "doubt"), in the Greek, means "not to be trusted." Instead of not trusting is own view, Jesus gently rebukes Thomas for NOT trusting the witnesses to His resurrection.

Quickly back peddling on needing physical evidence: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.” [John 20:28 NLT] I suspect this was one of those “O crap” moments for Thomas. After meeting Jesus, in the flesh, Thomas’ response is not elaborate. The only thing that matters is his response to Jesus.

There are some who do not believe because they need physical evidence, or they need God to do something for them on this level. They want “again” before they believe. I believe God is doing “again” all the time; yet we refuse to believe. “Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” [John 20:28 NLT] Jesus pronounces a special blessing on those who believe without needing an “again.”