Thomas’ Missed Opportunity

Thomas missed the opportunity to be the first person to believe in the resurrection of Jesus based solely on the testimony of the Apostles.

Thomas is known as “doubting Thomas” because of the events recorded in John 20:19-29. They occurred on the evening after Jesus’ resurrection. The disciples were huddled together behind a secured door when Jesus appears to them.

Jesus immediately says, “Peace be with you.” His presence may have frightened them as they had not opened the door to let Him in. Their response may have been like when Jesus walked on the water and they thought they were seeing a ghost (Luke 6:49-50).

Without being asked, Jesus showed them the evidence of the crucifixion in His body, “He showed them both His hands and His side.” The disciples’ response was to “rejoiced when they saw the Lord”

Before leaving He commissioned them and empowered them, “‘as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:21-22). This is a foreshadowing of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

Thomas was not with them that evening because Jesus had a lesson to teach through Him. “So the other disciples were saying to Thomas, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

Thomas was asking for the same opportunity - to see for himself, like the other disciples experienced. His request caused him to miss out on a greater opportunity - to be the first to believe without seeing (John 20:29).

When Jesus appears again a week later, He doesn’t condemn Thomas. Instead, He invites Thomas “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing” (John 20:27). Thomas response was to recognize Jesus as his Lord and as the God of creation, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

“Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed’” (John 20:29).

Thomas’ failure to believe without seeing was a lesson to the disciples that doubt is not a rejection of the truth. Genuine, truth-seeking skepticism will be honored by God. Second, Jesus was not going to be with them forever to give physical evidence. Therefore, they must prepare themselves through the study of scripture to address peoples’ doubts and questions. Then the power of the Holy Spirit would apply the word to peoples’ hearts resulting in faith and their salvation.

We must do the same. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).