It is a lesson too often taught in evangelical churches today: Thomas, a disciple of Jesus, could not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead and could only be convinced by seeing him in person. Jesus then utters the famous line in John 20:29: "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (New International Version). Therefore, some say, Thomas missed out on a special blessing. But did he?
Thomas Sees the Lord
What some fail to acknowledge in this scripture is that Thomas' doubt led to a special encounter with Jesus. Not only did he see the Lord with his own eyes, he was also given the opportunity to touch the wounds Jesus had received during his crucifixion. There were undoubtedly a significant number of Jesus' followers in the city, but not all of them saw the resurrected savior, let alone touched him. Encountering Jesus in that moment forever solidified Thomas' faith and devotion.
A Good Reason for Doubting
Certainly, Jesus foretold, three times, both his death and resurrection to his disciples, so Thomas would have known what to expect. And when the disciples who first saw Jesus after the resurrection described to Thomas all that the Lord had said and done, it should have been evidence enough for his faith. After all, these men knew Jesus better than anyone else alive.
But perhaps Thomas was thinking about something else Jesus had said just before his death:
"At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Mark 13:21-22).
In this quote, Jesus spoke of events that would occur near the end of time, one of which would involve the rise of false teachers claiming to be the Christ. Prior to the resurrection, Thomas had seen Jesus flogged and crucified on a Roman cross, an event so dark and devastating that it probably seemed like the end of the world. The Jews then claimed that Jesus' body had been stolen from its tomb. Many of Jesus' followers were distraught with grief and terror. It was the perfect situation into which an impostor could insinuate himself. Thomas needed to be sure the man everyone was seeing really was Jesus.
God Responds to Doubters
There are other Biblical examples of men who questioned God and, in return, experienced a divine encounter with Him. Perhaps the most stunning example can be found in the Book of Job. Job was a godly man who questioned God after He allowed disaster to take Job's family, wealth and health. God finally visited Job in a whirlwind and answered him in a compelling manner that left no more room for doubt!
The Book of 1 Kings speaks of another doubter, Elijah. Elijah demonstrated God's power to the Israelites on Mt. Carmel and ended a three-year drought, yet he was depressed afterward because Israel's queen sought to kill him. Exhausted, afraid and doubting his victory, Elijah fled into the desert to die. Yet when Elijah reached Mt. Horeb, something amazing happened. He heard the voice of God in an audible whisper. He saw demonstrations of God's power on the mountain in the form of a wind, an earthquake, and a fire. God reminded Elijah that events were still happening according to His plan.
And let's not forget one of the most famous doubters of all: Gideon. In the Book of Judges, God calls on Gideon to lead an army against the peoples oppressing the Israelites. Gideon, of course, doesn't feel up to the task and proposes a series of tests to ensure God is speaking to him. God answers all of the tests without ever reprimanding Gideon. Gideon goes on to become a mighty warrior who achieves a great victory for his people.
The Need to Question
These days, the need for believers to question signs and teachings is greater than ever. Jesus said that false prophets and teachers would arise near the end of time to deceive believers, some even performing miracles in His name. 1 John 4:1 even encourages believers to "not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." The word "spirits" in this case refers to spiritual movements or doctrines that believers may encounter in their walk with Christ.
This kind of skepticism, of course, doesn't refer to doubting the existence of God or the wisdom of scripture, but rather possessing a sense of caution and analyzing actions, attitudes and teachings to see if they truly come from God. To do this, believers must be free to ask questions, both of ministers and of God. As scripture shows, God is not intimidated or diminished by believers' questions, and such questioning often leads to a firmer, more confident faith.
April Kelsey - April Kelsey is a freelance writer specializing in politics, academic writing, and nutrition.
