“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.’” (John 20:24-25)
After Jesus’ death, the disciples sat together confused and hopeless for days. On Sunday morning, rumors reached them that Jesus had risen from the dead, but that seemed too good to be true. Despite the fact that several witnesses had seen Jesus after He was raised, the disciples did not believe them (Mark 16:14).
And just when Thomas was elsewhere, Jesus Himself appeared to His disciples! His visible appearance removed all doubt, especially when He showed them His scars and ate some fish and honey before their eyes. That was the proof that this was really Jesus and that He had risen bodily, not just as a ghost.
When Thomas joined them, his friends told him what had happened. For them the light of Easter had broken through! But not for Thomas. “Unless I see in His hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into His side, I will never believe,” he said firmly.
Eight days later, his wish was fulfilled. Jesus appeared again and had special attention for the doubting Thomas. Now that he saw Jesus for himself, he too was convinced.
Do you understand Thomas’ doubt? Would you also like to see Jesus for yourself?