THE FAITH OF THOMAS   

After the resurrection of Jesus, He appeared to many of his disciples, convincing them of the truth of the resurrection. His encounter with Thomas was particularly interesting. As narrated by John in 20:24-28;

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “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.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Though Thomas is best known for his ‘doubt’, three remarkable  aspects of faith arise from this encounter;

1. A personal faith

Thomas was not willing to buy the story of others. He wanted no part of a faith where he had not taken the journey himself. The fact that others had experienced the resurrected Lord was not good enough for him. Like Thomas every person needs to go through the process of finding his Savior and deepening his relationship with him in a personal way. How very often we find around us the pressure to conform to what family and friends believe. Having entered the community of believers, we find ourselves within a set of rules and patterns that we are called to follow. Those who do not conform are condemned. The journey to faith cannot be more different for the children of God, and preaching conformity within a fellowship of believers is a sure sign of spiritual stagnation.

2. A struggling faith

The stronger your faith, the greater has been your struggle to believe. Before faith arrives, must come doubt. A faith that has been produced despite the doubt, is a faith that has been tested and has survived. Faith by definition is the assurance of things not seen, but God makes enough evidence available to a seeking person to make that step of faith possible. The questions ‘Can Jesus really save me?’ and ‘Can God really do this?’ are invariably followed by the reassuring affirmations of faith, as God leads the seeker on a path of discovery to make faith possible as was the case with Thomas.

3. An enduring faith

Of all the disciples, Thomas was called to go the farthest. He traveled as far east as India, establishing churches and bringing the life of the gospel of Christ to many. His job was likely way tougher than that of the other disciples. With no encouragement and support of a local church or other believers who shared his faith, Thomas was asked to be a lone crusader. And he fulfilled his destiny with aplomb, finally laying down his life in martyrdom for Christ like the other disciples. His faith turned out to be an enduring faith.

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