Peace in doubt.

Doubting Thomas is such a great study. We are going to tackle his witness to Jesus’ resurrection this weekend. Aside from the historical information about him travelling to India, we also have this great insight into his skepticism around Jesus’ resurrection.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (John 20:24-25)

The other disciples of Jesus had seen Jesus and were “glad when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20). Thomas was absent. Many commentators take this to mean that Thomas was more of a loner. This could be true or not true. But for whatever reason, he was not present. He didn’t get the same insight they had had initially; so he had some serious doubts when they spoke about the risen Jesus.

As you can imagine, this is a great place in our study of Thomas to examine our own doubts about Jesus. Now the standard response from Christian audiences is something like this: “I don’t have any doubts; I shouldn’t doubt; I can’t think of any doubts.” And that is great—but at moments in our faith journey, we all have doubts that surface. They may even be below-the-surface iceberg-type doubts. Or maybe I could phrase it this way: we all have areas or moments in our faith-life where the evidence seems insufficient. It was this way for Thomas. The other disciples testified and gave witness to seeing a living, breathing, and vibrant Jesus. This great news was too good for Thomas to accept. He needed more.

Here is where my short-strung patience might get a little choppy with Thomas-types in my own life. I am prone to blurt out an insurgent grunt of dissatisfaction toward them. If I get it, why can’t they get it too and just as easily?

But first I must examine how it is that I came to believe. And then it is important to note that each person’s journey of faith comes via a different set of events and circumstances. Some of us come from a fully stable home life, and in that family setting we were brought to the waters of baptism and to faith in Jesus. Some of us settled into a romance with a convinced Christian who shared their testimony, and it made sense to us, so we followed also. Others of us have come from an assortment of circumstances and “god-thoughts” that have always flitted through our mind, until finally we searched the Bible for insight and walked away believing that Jesus is the Christ.

Here is where I would ask you to think about your journey and also your own doubts, questions, and cynicism along the way. As you grew in faith, what questions surfaced again and again? What ideas might be called “doubts?” What would be a hang-up for you?

Here is how Jesus responded to Thomas, and, I’ll warn you, it's probably not the typical Christian response to doubt, but it could be:

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26-29)

Jesus’ first words were, “peace be with you” (v. 26). This is interesting! The heart of the believers in John 20:19 also needed “peace.” Jesus is sharing his peace with all those present, including Thomas. Apparently the need for peace is, in this case, universal. We need Jesus’ peace also. We need Jesus’ peace when the future seems grey and dull. We need Jesus’ peace when events are sparked with uncertainty and angst. We need peace when we can’t make sense of the world. We need Jesus’ peace when we are afraid or when we doubt.

The other note to share about Jesus’ reaction to Thomas is this: Jesus is not scolding Thomas for his doubt. Jesus moves right to the proof. “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe” (v. 27). What if Jesus would have chided him first? What if Jesus had shook his head at him and said, “Thomas, what is wrong with you?” Jesus had every right to do that but Jesus also recognizes the end goal: faith. In order for Thomas to take the next step of faith, he needed to have this response from Jesus to his own doubts and skepticism. Why?

The human heart needs real proof. We need not just a theory on paper. We need flesh and blood proof that the sacrifice made for us (Jesus’ death), and the payment that was confirmed by heaven, was sufficient and settled (Jesus’ resurrection). We get both in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

But my heart is taunted by a low, faint request: “I want to see and touch him too.” My heart wants Jesus front and center, walking through walls and interacting with the 500 witnesses. How can my heart be at peace? How can your heart experience Jesus’ presence?

In the case of this account, we have the proven aftermath of Thomas’ seeing and believing. Thomas went to India with this interaction. Thomas travelled 3019 miles from Jerusalem to Karala, India with the message of a risen Savior. Thomas may have touched Jesus’ pierced side. The wound in Jesus was still evident and necessary for Thomas to be propelled forward with this life-saving message: “Jesus, the Son of God, died for you and now lives.”

History now records how far Thomas would go to share this news so that others would be blessed. And Thomas paid for this witness with his life, knowing that his death was not the end. His death was only the beginning of an eternity with Jesus. I wonder if, when Thomas entered heaven, if he compared wounds with Jesus? History says he died by the point of a spear. Was this John 20 encounter to prepare Thomas for that day? How is Jesus preparing you for that day—your final earth-bound day? Know this: He is. You are reading this right now and He will take his Word and his Spirit and fill you with next steps of faith. And know that He offers you his peace also. Because He is alive and will never again die, your death is simply a door to a greater reality in heaven.

And here is the real proof for all of us: Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these [Words of God] are written so 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 20:30-31)

John’s witness, and the Bible’s witness, is what stirs our faith to life. Faith comes by hearing the message. (Romans 10:17)

Peace to you.