I... Like Thomas

This Easter Sunday, I can relate to Jesus' disciple Thomas. Even though I think he gets a bad rap for going down in history as "Doubting Thomas" (Should Peter forever be known as "Denying Peter"? Should I always be remembered as "Indecisive Bill"?)... he is raw and honest about his desire to have tangible proof of the resurrected Christ.

Before his infamous remarks, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.", there is a brief comment regarding Thomas' absence when Jesus first appeared to the disciples when they were gathered together.

Can you feel a connection with Thomas in feeling like you missed out on being at the right place at the right time? I wonder what Thomas was doing when the other disciples had the opportunity to see for themselves that the Messiah was clearly alive. What could have been more important?

The rest of the his friends must have gotten on his case the next time they saw him, jabbing him with comments like, "Where the heck were you? You missed it!"

The one who really needed to see for himself was missing in action.

But maybe that is exactly what God had in mind.

Thomas does get his chance to see and feel for himself... but it is a week later. He takes his legendary stance of needing to see and feel, but has to wait seven more days for his chance to do so.

I wonder if he was "Patient Thomas" during those days.

I am absolutely sure I would not have been.

But his number finally came up and he got to "see and feel", but only after what must have felt more like weeks. As I think about his response, "My Lord and my God", I think Thomas must have known himself pretty well. He knew he needed tangible evidence and when he got it he joined with the other disciples in their belief in the resurrected Jesus.

Often I doubt. I need proof. I need tangible evidence. At times I even ask God for it. And at times He provides it... but usually more than a week later.

In those times His encouragement to me is, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Thomas reminds me that even though I am much like him in my doubt, I don't have the opportunity to experience first-hand proof of Jesus' life death or resurrection. I live in a time and day where I have to believe without seeing for myself and for that, the resurrected Jesus says I am "blessed".