The context is this: it is the evening of Easter. The doors had been shut by the disciples because of their fear of the Judeans.
“Fear of the Judeans” would have not been unreasonable, (at all) considering that Jesus had just been “crushed” by Judean forces – along with Roman help!
Jesus, their master, was “no more.” The man whom they had followed for three long years, whom they had learned from, whom they had joined without question – when he called to them, was dead. Not only that – he had been crucified. He had been called a criminal and had been convicted and put to death by the state. It was no hero’s death – that fell upon him. It was definitely not the death of royalty. It was the death of a common outlaw or of a slave. It was horrendous.
You have to understand, from this night on…
Poor Thomas – has been permanently labeled as “a doubter.” He is “the” poster boy. He is our “go-to-man.” Thomas the “scapegoat”…the “forever skeptic!” Thomas the “late bloomer…the pessimist… His name lives in infamy, the subject of scorn and shame…dependent upon whom you talk to…
The church has historically taught: you do not want to be like Thomas.
Allow me to suggest to you – that we need him. I suggest furthermore that the church needed him and needs him still. He served and serves a very important function, and therefore, his continuing existence.
He has been “pigeon-holed-stereotyped and forever-labeled.” There is no going back…for him. He has traveled too far.
Two millennia of history books, sermons, religious writings, cartoons and theological treatises in the Christian tradition have cemented his position.
Even in a “politically correct world” where labeling of “others” is seen as forbotten – it is still ok to “call out” Thomas…
It is ok. It is like he is grandfathered in…we have made an exception for him. We made room for him out of necessity.
Thomas himself – was never to blame for his label. He made a “reasonable statement” in a very “un-reasonable, once-in-a-lifetime resurrection-situation.”
What I find so very interesting is “how comfortable” the church has been – in allowing Thomas to be so trapped.
You do not hear a thing about old “denying Peter.”
I believe in my heart of hearts the reason that this has been allowed to go on for two millennia – is because individuals might need his doubt – to make sense of their own.
Thomas is necessary!
They have a champion for their cause! They have someone in their corner. They have someone very much like them.
The church should never say that people should NOT BE LIKE HIM, because there are people who are exactly like him…and they too, have a place among us – and always had
Even though Jesus said, “the greater blessing is for those – who can believe without seeing,” it is hard to imagine that there’s a believer anywhere who wouldn’t have traded places with Thomas, given the chance, and seen that face, and heard that voice, and touched those ruined hands.
We all reach out – “each and every one of us” through Thomas.
Thomas makes that all possible. He gives us license. In essence – he reaches out for us!
One of the things I have learned from psychologists is that “doubt is always easier than faith.” Faith takes work. Faith takes time. Faith takes practice. Faith takes commitment. Doubting is easy in comparison. You just doubt…
As it turns out, Jesus does not care that we have abandoned him in the past. Jesus cares not that we deny him in moments of truth. Jesus chooses us for what we are…children of God, fears, doubts, blotches, sins and all.
He chooses us as we are, just as he chose the twelve.
It is from the lips of Thomas, that we have what has been called the “greatest confession of faith – recorded anywhere in the Hebrew and Christian Bible.
It is Thomas who is the first disciple to put into the words the truth that Jesus is both Lord and God…
And this comes from the doubter…who incidentally, does not stay a doubter…following this even he immediately becomes an “outspoken advocate” for his Jesus. “My Lord and My God” are his words to forever be remembered by!!! Perhaps we should be imitating him!