THOMAS - "LET'S STOP BEING SO CRITICAL" (PART 3 OF 6)

 

St. Thomas by Peter Paul Rubens from his Twelve Apostles series at the Museo del Prado, Madrid, c. 1611

Continuing with a series urging believers to give up being inclined to negative thoughts for Lent and finding so much joy in that attitude they never go back to being critical.

How many look at the title and painting of today's blog and immediately think, "Oh, it's doubting Thomas?"

No, Doubting isn't his first name. No, Biblically his nickname isn't "Doubting Thomas;" it's "the Twin." 

Yes, Thomas doubted, but in Mark 16:9-14 stated that the eleven did not believe the report of the women or the two disciples from Emmaus and Jesus rebuked them. Also, Matthew 28:17 stated some (plural) doubted - this was at the Great Commission, and after Thomas showed up. So why single out Thomas? No! Good! Reason!

Let's look at what else we know about Thomas, starting with the Synoptic Gospels - we know he's one of the twelve. And that's it. Well, since Matthew and Luke's lists technically list six pairs of disciples, they both put Matthew together with Thomas.

When you get to John, you learn more. This is where we learn he's nicknamed "the Twin." It may be he had a twin, it may be that he looked similar to either one of the other apostles or Jesus Himself, and it may be that he used to play baseball in Minnesota. The last one is slightly less likely than the others.

Thomas also was on the passenger list for Peter's post-Resurrection fishing trip in John 21. I find it interesting that he and Nathaniel (aka Bartholomew) joined Peter and the Zebedee brothers, but Peter's brother and fellow fisher Andrew didn't.

Yes, I'm now working backward in John. We also hear from Thomas in John 14:5. Here, Thomas (and probably other) disciples were stumped by what Jesus had said. Unlike the others, he raised his hand (maybe) and asked "Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?" I'm sure you all know the answer. What you don't have John 14:6 memorized?

However, I want you to think of John 11 next time you want to dub him "Doubting Thomas." This chapter starts with Jesus being informed that his friend Lazarus was sick. I'm sure you know the story. Jesus waited two days, and then shocked his disciples by saying that Lazarus was dead and then left to Judea, where recently they tried to stone him.

But do you remember a disciple saying, "Let us go also that  we may die with him?" It's in John 11:16. Notice who that disciple was? Yep. Thomas.

After hearing that statement, do you think we should call him "Doubting Thomas?" Should we not rather call him "Ready to Die for Christ Thomas?" 

Maybe we should stop vilifying Thomas? You think?