Dan Czaplewski posted on April 10, 2007 14:59
The Gospel for the Second Sunday of Easter (April 15) is John 20:19-31. I understand that, for at least the last 50 years, Lutherans have had this story of Jesus appearing to the disciples and “doubting Thomas” as the Gospel of the Second Sunday of Easter.
In Sunday School, “doubting Thomas” was always the bad guy. The only disciple who has a worse reputation that Thomas is Judas. To call someone a “doubting Thomas” is hardly a compliment.
As I have been studying the text, I think that “doubting” Thomas is far from the truth. Thomas was convinced, absolutely convinced, that Jesus was dead. There is no doubt in his words, “I refuse to believe unless…” (John 20:24).
“Faithless” Thomas might be a better nickname. Of course, all the disciples started out pretty faithless: Mary Magdala at the tomb wants to know where Jesus’ body has been taken. This Gospel reading begins with the 10 disciples huddled in a locked room “because they were afraid of the Jews.” But God moved them all from unbelief to faith and God moves us from our unbelief to faith as well.
Whatever is shaking your faith today, you can be assured that God is at work by the power of the Holy Spirit. Whatever makes you afraid can’t stand up to the power of Christ and His resurrection.
God put the confession of faith into Thomas’ mouth, even as He puts it into ours: “My Lord and my God!” Let’s not be too hard on Thomas this weekend, since God is the author and finisher of Thomas’ faith just as He is the author and finisher of our faith.