Sometimes, those around us make us feel like we need to accept things as they are without question. And when we do question, our curiosity can be misunderstood as divisive or doubtful.
Curt Thompson says, “Doubt is a relational feeling. It’s the feeling when a relationship has taken a turn into the unknown….” Perhaps this is how Thomas felt. At the end of John’s gospel, we see the scene that has given him the nickname of doubting Thomas. Interestingly, though, Jesus doesn’t look at him that way. Verse 20:27 in the NIV says, “Stop doubting and believe.” In the original language, it would have been more like, “Do not become unbelieving [apistos] but believing [pistos].”
The gospel of John is all about what Jesus has done, and Thomas has been there to witness it all. And yet, he still wanted to see Jesus for himself, he couldn’t take the word of the other disciples. Jesus didn’t dismiss Thomas but instead came to him and let him see for himself.
Jesus meets us right where we are in our questions and wavering beliefs.
