Tom

October 23, 2019

I love Thomas! Having received word that his friend Lazarus was sick, after waiting for two days, Jesus decided to head down to Bethany in Judea from his sanctuary in neutral territory east of the Jordan river. Judea was a hotbed of intrigue, filled with religious and political elites who were itching to find a way to get rid of this pesky preacher. Anyone associated with him also had a target on his back and a price on his head. 

Among Jesus’ disciples was ebullient Peter, fiery James and John, Matthew the collaborator, and Simon from the Resistance. And Thomas. Thomas was a realist, not an idealist. Others may have signed on for the adventure; not Thomas. He heard a voice with authority, was called, and said yes. But he is under no illusion; he can read the signs, and they don’t look good. He’s not about to tell Jesus what he should or shouldn’t do, but knows what likely lies ahead. “Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”” —John 11:16 NKJV

Thomas doesn’t refuse to go. Knowing what it may mean, he resigns himself to his fate. In chapter 14, when Jesus tells the disciples they know where he is going, Tom protests. “We don’t know where you’re going; how can we know the way?” And famously, in the 20th chapter of John, he asserts that he would not believe Jesus was alive unless he put his fingers into the nail holes in Jesus’ hands and the wound in his side. Thomas is no Pentecostal; he’d make a better Presbyterian. 

I resonate with Thomas; in fact, I think I’m that twin of his. He’s no captive of his emotions like Peter. He may have envied Peter his enthusiasm, but what we find in Thomas is a dogged determination to simply stick it out, even when it looks like all is lost. He’s not about to be swayed by the other disciples’ stories of meeting Jesus; he isn’t quitting even if he isn’t sure of the outcome. I’m thankful for the Peters of life. I appreciate their enthusiasm and wish I could muster up a bit of it myself. But I’m also thankful that among Jesus’ disciples there was a Thomas—skeptic, doubter, but determined follower. He gives hope for me.