Doubting Thomas

John 11:5-8, 16 vs John 20:24-25

Thomas the Apostle. When Jesus wanted to return to Judea, knowing that he would probably be murdered there, Thomas said to the others, “Let us also go there and we might die with him.” But Thomas was not remembered for this bravery. His claim to fame came later when he refuses to acknowledge the resurrection. He just couldn’t wrap his mind around it. The story goes that he needed to touch Jesus wounds to be convinced.

-Benjamin Linus, Lost

Human instinct is to forget the good and get stuck on the bad. When a friend hurts us, we forget the years of good times we’ve had. After one bad movie, we doubt the skill of an actor. And if we know of a man’s sin, we actively have to look past it and not let that define him to us.

The story of Thomas’ doubt  leads to a great lesson in faith, but throughout the years that is all Thomas is remembered for.

In John 11, Christ is told a friend of his, Lazarus, had gotten sick. Jesus tells his disciples that he wants to go to Judea to heal him. They told him that the last time they were there they tried to stone him, and that if they returned, they would surely succeed this time. Thomas then boldly tell the other disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

This act of bravery is a true example of what a disciple should be.

The biggest lesson in these versus, and how Thomas is remembered, is the importance of always living the gospel. We need to live in such a way that nobody sees your “doubt”.  We cannot let one mistake out weight all of the good we do. We need to live in such a way that even if someone does hear of a mistake you make, they know what your true character is.

There are so many people that watch everything we do. Be an example of the believers! Your good example will be what people remember about all members of the church. Show the bravery that Thomas showed. Dying for Christ requires a great amount of bravery, but living by Christ requires so much more.