John 11:7-16, John 13:31-14:7, John 20:19-28
We get really stuck on doubting Thomas, so let’s look at the three times he appears in the Gospel of John and try to get a fuller view. Thomas enters the Gospel with an assured statement that he is willing to die with Christ, and he tries to rally (and does) the disciples to go with Jesus back to Bethany. In his next appearance, Thomas isn’t afraid to ask the question that it feels like the rest of the disciples want to ask. “How can we know the way?” Thomas asks. He gets an answer we are familiar with by now, an answer we would not get if he didn’t ask. When we come to the resurrection, Thomas is willing to name what he needs to see, hear, touch to believe that Jesus is risen. He doesn’t just go along with the crowd. He is willing to ask, to push, to risk.
How does this relate to our faith journeys? Who is this person for us? Is it us? Who asks the questions that we have? Who moves us to action? How do you see Thomas moving and changing in his faith? Who is this voice in our faith community and histories?
