On the night of His arrest, Jesus spoke openly to His disciples. It was important that there be no confusion. In beautiful language, repeated throughout the history of the church, Jesus explained to them who He was and what was going to happen to Him. “You know where I am going and you know the way I am going to take.” Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way you are going to take?”
Practical Thomas. Asking the question that was on the minds of the others. And Jesus, their teacher those past years, used this question to open doors of understanding for his disciples. “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father except by me.”
Later, after the resurrection, Thomas missed an opportunity to see the living Jesus. We don’t know why Thomas was not there. There is no indication he had separated himself from the other disciples. Perhaps he was dealing with his grief alone. Whatever the reason, he was not present when Jesus appeared inside the locked room where the ten were gathered. When Thomas was told that they had seen Jesus alive, he replied, “Unless I see in his own hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” And for his refusal to accept the disciples' account of the living Lord, he has been pegged as “Doubting Thomas” throughout history. The phrase is a common one, even outside religious vernacular. And yet the other disciples believed because they had seen. Originally they had not accepted the witness of Mary Magdalene and were in the upper room, locked for security, when Jesus appeared to them.
Which begs the question – Is there a place for practicality in faith? Jesus understood the frailty of belief in mankind. For this reason, He fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish, healed the blind, the lame and the diseased. He brought life to those already dead. He knew that for many to believe, they had to see.
For this reason, we, as followers, are commanded to love one another. Not an empty emotion, but a vital, active approach to sharing the gospel. This is the practical visual of our faith. We live in generations of Thomases, those who will not believe until they see our faith in deeds, who need to feel the Samaritan’s touch.
Jesus did not rebuke Thomas. Instead, He addressed his need. “Put your finger here – look, here are my hands. Take your hand and put it in my side. You must not doubt, but believe.” Words spoken in understanding. There is no indication that Thomas needed the actual physical touch. His reply – “My Lord and my God!”
As Jesus explained, Thomas’ belief rested on seeing. Blessed, He said, are the ones who believe without seeing. But for those, like Thomas, who need to touch the Master to believe, may we be the hands and feet in His service.
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