Doubting Thomas - Bible Story

The Doubt of Thomas Bible Story

After His resurrection, Christ appears to ten of the disciples and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit with the authority to forgive sins (John 20:19-23). When told by the other disciples, "we have seen the Lord," Thomas doubts this is true until he sees Jesus and His wounds for himself. 8 days later, Jesus again appears to the disciples, now with Thomas, and tells him to touch and see His wounds from the cross and to believe!

"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." Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."

"Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:24-29)

Importance of Doubting Thomas Today

The doubt of Thomas is described in the Church hymns as "blessed," for it was not a doubt of resistance to truth, but one that desperately desired a truthful answer. A doubt which gave birth to faith when the answer was revealed. In hymns of the Church, Christ says to Thomas, "Your doubt will teach My Passion and Resurrection to all," and we affirm that his doubt "brought the hearts of believers to knowledge." The conversion of Thomas' doubt into faith led him to the clearest confession of Christ's divinity, addressing Jesus as "My Lord and my God."

If we are faithless, we are Christless and graceless, hopeless and joyless. Thomas was ashamed of his unbelief and cried out, My Lord and my God. He spoke with affection, as one that took hold of Christ with all his might; "My Lord and my God." Sound and sincere believers, though slow and weak, shall be graciously accepted by the Lord Jesus. It is the duty of those who read and hear the gospel, to believe, to embrace the doctrine of Christ, and that (1 John 5:11) (Matthew Henry Commentary)

Read the full Bible account of Doubting Thomas below and find articles about its significance for us today!

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