“Thomas said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God,” John 20:28

It’s interesting to see the progression of faith attributed to the Apostle Thomas.  He was called “Thomas Didymas” (the twin).  Scripture doesn’t say who his “twin” was, but he was a fisherman and a native of Galilee.  Unfortunately, he also got the nickname, “Doubting Thomas,” for which he is better known.  I wonder if Thomas was gifted with an analytical nature and liked to understand all the facts before he made his decision.  Today, he would probably be an engineer, surgeon or dentist!

It’s only in John’s gospel that we hear about Thomas.  In John 11, the other disciples tried to talk Jesus out of going to Bethany when Lazarus died.  Jesus said, “Let us go to Judea again.”  But the disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”  Thomas seemed the bravest by saying, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”  Let’s give Thomas some credit!  He was willing to die for Jesus.  His words may have been pessimistic or even filled with false courage, but he was thinking the right thoughts.  Ultimately, all but the apostle John would die for Jesus’ sake.

We see him again in the upper room when Jesus explained to his disciples that He was going away.  Thomas, still willing to go with Him anywhere, was the only one to ask, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Then Jesus replied with that wonderful verse, “I AM the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  John 14:6

The next time Thomas is mentioned is after Jesus’ resurrection and the other disciples tell him, they have seen the Lord.  Thomas’ questioning nature responds that he must see the nail prints and touch His side, or He won’t believe.  Afterward, Jesus appeared again and Thomas stopped his doubting and believed.  He was the first one to publicly profess Jesus as being both Lord and God.

When Thomas said he would follow Jesus anywhere, little did he know his words would come true!  Church tradition and history tells us that Thomas traveled outside the Roman Empire to Persia and India.  The ancient Silk Road was well traveled and the southern route went all the way to India.  He became a bold evangelist and church planter.  It is believed he arrived in India no later than 49 AD.  There is some evidence that he made it all the way to China.  Regardless, Thomas became a faithful, fearless witness, spending his life spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.  History tells us he died by the sword in southern India, near Madras.  The irony is that Thomas touched Jesus side where the sword pierced Him, and he suffered the same fate!

Today, in southern India, there are monuments and a Bible college honoring Thomas.  Many Christians date their heritage to this apostle and have Biblical surnames like Abraham, Thomas and Philip.  He is an inspiration to those who question and want facts, but when he believed, there was no stopping him!

Your friend, Jean