At My Father's Business

April 22, 2023

Maybe we’ve misjudged Thomas. I’m talking about the disciple everybody calls “Doubting Thomas.” We hold him in lesser esteem because of an incident right after Jesus rose from the dead.

Thomas first speaks in the book of John. Jesus has learned that Lazarus is gravely ill, and he decides to head back to the environs of Jerusalem. Some of the disciples remind Jesus that the Jews were threatening to kill him last time they were in town. Thomas, however, says to the other disciples, “Let is also go back, that we may die with him.” Man, that was brave!

The next time we see Thomas is at the Last Supper. Jesus explains that he will soon be going away, and they should know exactly where he’s going. Thomas asks him to explain. He probably asked a question all the other disciples were too afraid to ask. Thomas has courage.

So why wasn’t Thomas with the other disciples, scared and behind a locked door, when the risen Jesus visited? Maybe he was continuing Jesus ministry. He had courage. Several things Jesus said at the last supper suggested that the ministry would be their job, to carry on. Maybe Thomas was doing ministry.

When Jesus appeared to most of the disciples, not Thomas, they didn’t react at first. When Jesus showed them his scars, then they rejoiced. It was after they saw the scars. So why is Thomas maligned because he wanted to also see Jesus’ scars, as proof? When Thomas did see the scars, he rejoiced, “My Lord and my God!”

Don’t worry about labels people give you. Carry on. Serve Jesus. Thomas went on to found many churches in India and the Middle East.

Matthew 28:19, “Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations! baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”