| What I Can Learn From . . . , Part 14: Thomas |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, December 12 2005 00:00 |
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We know him as “doubting Thomas.” Once he complained that if the disciples went with Jesus to Jerusalem, they would die with him (John 11:16). When Jesus told the disciples that He was the way, the truth, and the light, Thomas opined that “we don’t know the way” (John 14:5). Later, when Thomas was absent during Jesus’ appearance to the disciples after His resurrection, Thomas said that he would not believe unless he could touch his nail-scarred hands and put his hand into the wound in his side. Jesus appeared to them again a week later, with Thomas present, and gave Thomas the proof he demanded (John 20:24-28). Thomas’ reaction was “My Lord and my God!” Is the lesson that we should not doubt? Perhaps not. Remember that Jesus called Thomas, and only Judas among those Jesus originally called was not regenerate. Jesus knew Judas was a devil when he called him, but he did so to fulfill the eternal purpose of God as prophesied. Thomas openly confessed his faith when he saw the risen Christ, and tradition tells us that he went on to India to take the gospel there and subsequently died a martyr’s death. Thomas had real and saving faith; he made his calling and election sure. Perhaps the lesson is that it is not wrong to ask questions and seek proof. True faith seeks understanding, or as Anselm put it, “I believe in order that I may understand.” Thomas did not necessarily say he refused to trust Christ, but that he could not believe the resurrection without evidence. A true disciple who seeks will find, for so Jesus promised in Matt. 7:8. One of the stanzas of the well-known hymn “Just As I Am” reads: “Just as I am, tho tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, fightings within and fears without, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!” Thomas came. |
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