Give Thomas a Break
This is a phrase not used much any more , “you're a doubting Thomas” It comes from Thomas not believing that Christ had risen without Thomas seeing proof .Thomas was one of the 12 Apostles.
(John 20:24-25 ESV) 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.”
Was Thomas in his right to want proof ,Why would the other 11 lie to him.
For just a moment let's look at what Luke has to say about Christ appearing to the disciples
So let's start with this John 20:24 tells us that Thomas was not with the disciples when Christ appeared to them “Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.”
So what was Thomas doing ? We don’t know ,maybe he was trying to figure out the next step .When Jesus was speaking of his death ,Thomas said to the other disciples “ So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”(John 11:16 ESV) “Thomas was ready to die for Christ .Later in John 13:36-38 Peter said basically the same thing.
(Luke 24:36-43 ESV)
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.
What were the other 11 doing ? John 20 :19 tells us they were locked in a room for they feared the Jews. .Thomas was out and about(some speculation) maybe he was late and got locked out . They were in hiding
Let's go back to Luke 24 .What was the reaction of the 11 in a locked room ,hiding from the Jews when Christ appeared to them v37But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
I get being startled, someone taps you on the shoulder you can be startled .They
Didn’t believe their own eye’s they thought they saw a spirit or in today's terms maybe a ghost. They didn’t believe they doubted in their hearts. V38b why do doubts arise in your hearts? This is Christ asking them.
Christ shows them evidence V 39-40 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. gTouch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
In verse 38 dought arose in their hearts compare that to Luke 24:11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
When the women told the apostles of the resurrection they thought it to be a tale, a fable . With the exception of Peter he ran to the tomb, then went home marveling at what had happened (ESV) using the word marveling as the ESV does makes it sound like he was excited ,kind of beyond himself as to what had happened. Other translations use wondering to himself as to what had happened. I think that's a better word .Peter was wondering what happened to Jesus? Probably had all kinds of questions and scenarios going thru his head .He may have even been confused. Remember in John 13:36-38 Peter said he would lay down his life ,and yet Jesus said you would deny me 3 times.All though Peter ran to the tomb he walked away from the tomb probably bewildered ,confused ,wondering.
When he was also locked in the room .May be he was trying to convince the others in the room?
As vocal as Peter has shown to be ,when Jesus showed up in the locked room Peter was either struck dumb with awe ,or just didn’t believe like the rest that were there. With the exception of Thomas the twin. Who wasn’t there. Even after Christ showed the 11 evidence that he was real they still disbelieved 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling,he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat? Thier disbelief was possibly like” this is to good to be true “,so Jesus gave more evidence that he wasn’t a spirit and ate before them.
All this to say ,instead of calling someone a doubting Thomas .They should be called a doubting disciple for they needed evidence even when Jesus was standing before them. Shame on you Peter. Thomas ‘s name doesn’t mean doubter , it means twin in scripture he is often referred to as Thomas the twin..
