So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (CSB)
I think that too often Thomas gets a bad reputation because he said he would not believe unless he saw the Lord risen. History has nicknamed him “doubting Thomas” but when we look at the other disciples, they doubted as well until they saw Jesus.
John 20:9 tells us that after two of the disciples looked inside the empty tomb that they believed, but, “… they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead.”
In John 20:13, when Mary is asked why she is crying, she is recorded as saying, “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” …, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”
Luke 24:9-11 tells us that “Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.”
On that day, people did not believe that Jesus was alive until they saw Him. So while Thomas said that he would not believe until he saw the scars on Jesus, that he would not believe, once Thomas was in the presence of Jesus, he believed.
Likewise today, many people will not believe the things of God and that Jesus died for our sins and rose again until they experience Him. We experience Him through the Holy Spirit. Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:29)
We are blessed if we believe because we have not seen Him as the disciples saw!!!
We may all have doubts at time. The disciples did when they walked with Him and after Jesus rose from the dead. Trust in Him, read His Word, and pray. He will draw close to us.
Discussion Questions:
- Does it surprise you that the disciples had doubts and did not understand that Jesus was alive when they saw the empty tomb? Why or why not?
- Are there times when you have doubts that Jesus is God, that He rose from the dead?
- What can you do when you have doubts? (Read Bible, pray, talk to another believer in Christ)
End in prayer asking God to help ease any doubts that you may have concerning Jesus’ death and resurrection and to help you understand and explain the gospel to others.
