For all we know, Thomas may have been the boldest of Jesus 12 disciples-a paragon of courageous service and unshakable loyalty. The New Testament offers evidence to support the notion. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, some of the disciples were reluctant to return to Judea, where an attempt had been made of Jesus life. Thomas was the one who finally said, “Let’s go so that we may die with Him” (John 11:16)
It could be that Thomas was the best listener of Jesus’ disciples. After Jesus told his followers that he was returning to heaven to prepare a place for them and that they knew the way to where he was going, Thomas was the one who spoke up: “Lord. . . we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:5). Maybe the same question occurred to the other disciples; maybe if didn’t. Either way, only Thomas showed he was paying attention.
The full scope of Thomas’s contributions and strengths as a disciple will forever be overshadowed by one moment of weakness. Thomas is remembered first and foremost as Jesus’ doubting disciple.
Thomas was absent the first time Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection. When the others tried to tell Thomas about their postresurrection encounter with the Lord, he was (perhaps understandably) reluctant to believe their story. In fact, he adamantly rejected their eyewitness accounts. He said, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!” (John 20:25).
File that statement under Be Careful What You Ask For.
Eight days later, the disciples assembled again. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus appeared once more and presented himself to Thomas for inspection. Jesus said, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer” (John 20:27).
Imagine Thomas’s elation as he heard his vow of skepticism and doubt referenced in the words of the risen Lord. The chastised disciple’s disbelief vanished forever. “Thomas responded to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
Even that wonderfully sincere statement of faith was not enough to change history’s view of him. So he is forever known not as “Faithful Thomas” or even “Astonished Thomas” but as “Doubting Thomas.”
JOHN 20:24-25- “One of the Twelve, Thomas (called ‘Twin’), was not with them when Jesus came, So the other disciples kept telling him,
“But he said to them, ‘If don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!”