Poor Thomas has been known throughout Christian history as ‘Doubting Thomas’. But amidst all the miraculous and wonderful events of Easter we come down to earth with a bang with the account of Thomas. So why did John include this account in his gospel. Because he realised that Thomas stood for all of us. Who, here in this church, can say truthfully I have never doubted anything in my whole life? None of us. Thomas is the universal figure who stands for everyone of us.

When he sees Jesus for the first time after the crucifixion, Jesus challenges him and whilst he doesn’t want to admit it publicly he realises that he has to accept that he didn’t believe the other apostles when they said that they had seen Jesus. Throughout this week after Jesus’ Resurrection he keeps telling the truth that he finds it difficult to believe. I wonder how often I have heard that when talking to people who are right on the edge of the Church, they want to believe but they can’t take the final step that takes them from unbelief to believe in Jesus as the one who came from God, who lived, died and rose again to be our Saviour and Advocate in Heaven.

Above all they must remain honest to themselves, God wants nothing less. We cannot make their minds up for them, there is very little we can say, we must walk with them and be where they are. In the end the change will only come when they take the final step of putting their trust in God. And then stand back as words of affirmation pour out of them.

To return to Thomas when he put his faith and trust in Jesus he said, ‘My Lord and my God.’ What a fantastic affirmation of faith.

Andrew SSL