John 20:19-31 Doubting Thomas (Gospel for April 23, 2006)

Observation

The Gospel tells of the appearance of the risen Christ to the disciples, and Thomas’s confession of Jesus as “my Lord and my God.” Note that this is the first time in the gospel of John that Jesus is addressed as “God.” Jesus appeared to his disciples twice, the first time Thomas was not with them. However, in both times, the evangelist states that the “doors were locked” (John 20:19 and 20:36).

Interpretation

Among the four evangelists, John is the only one who speaks of Thomas, who is described as a loyal and devoted disciple. In John 11:5-16, when Jesus sets out for Judea where the Jews threatened to stone him, Thomas says, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Yet in the Gospel, John describes Thomas’s moment of doubt. Thomas demands proof of Jesus’ Resurrection. Jesus appears to Thomas who is quickly convinced and is the first to proclaim the divinity of Jesus.

This was followed by Jesus’ response to Thomas: “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Jesus was referring to the faith of the eyewitnesses and apostles that depended on visual experience, in contrast to the faith of the succeeding generations of Christians who believed without having seen.

Both groups are true believers, but what differentiates them is their degree of blessedness. Those who were not eyewitnesses but nevertheless believed are, as far as John is concerned, more blessed!

Thus, Jesus spoke these words not to shame Thomas but to build up the faith of the Christian community who have not seen Jesus. John introduces a different kind of faith: “those who have not seen and have believed.” This is kind of faith that applies to us present-day Christians because we, too, have not seen but believe.

Generalization

But what does John mean that this kind of faith is more blessed?

Thomas eventually traveled to ancient Babylon (present day Iraq), Persia (present-day Iran), and India where he preached relentlessly, built churches, and won Christ over to others. For someone who was slow to believe, Thomas’s new stage of faith certainly enabled him to accomplish so much.

Believing without seeing calls us to have an openness, acceptance and trust toward God in Jesus, so that in the process, we will also be able to meet and experience the risen Christ in a more powerful way.

We often say, “to see is to believe.” Through Thomas, John is teaching us that “to believe is to see… and to see so much more.” With our faith, we see God in the beauty of creation, we see God’s hand in the event of our lives, and we see how other people continue to show the love and forgiveness that only God can make possible. Isn’t this the kind of faith that is more blessed?

Application

• There is a doubting Thomas in each one of us. When do I experience my strongest doubts?

• On the other hand, just like Thomas, what can I cite as my peak experiences of “Jesus presence in my life”?

• How can I use these experiences to transform my doubts to occasions of leveling up my faith?