Thomas overcomes | John 20:25

Thomas was one of Jesus’ most loyal followers. The Gospels portray him as reflective, not talkative. On the three occasions where his words are recorded, it’s clear Thomas thought long and hard before speaking. Once, in the wake of a friend’s death, Thomas broke the silence, saying that he was willing to die for Jesus if it came to that (see John 11:16). When everything came crashing down the following day, Thomas was devastated. They all were, of course, but Thomas seemed to take it especially hard. While the rest huddled together in fear, Thomas was not with them. On Resurrection Sunday, when Jesus appeared to his disciples, Thomas was nowhere to be found. He emerged from hiding to find his buddies beside themselves with joy. “We have seen the Lord!” they exclaimed. Thomas wasn’t buying it: “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” (John 20:25). This may sound like hard-heartedness, but it wasn’t. We know this because a few days later, when Jesus graciously appeared to Thomas, he fell to his knees and confessed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Listen in for more about why Thomas was a great man of faith and not of doubt.