The Patience of Christ

It’s easy to pity Thomas the Apostle. One documented account of a moment of doubt, and we’ve stuck him with the nickname “Doubting Thomas.” We’re so confident that we would have believed Jesus rose from the dead after we watched Him die.

I think of Thomas and his story– his disbelief, his doubt, his wrestling, and it brings me hope. Here’s a man who walked with Jesus in the flesh for three years as His apostle and watched Him perform countless miracles; yet he struggles to believe the news that Jesus rose from the dead because he hasn’t seen Jesus with his own eyes. 

If I’m honest with myself, I’m more prone to skepticism than I care to admit. I struggle to believe my cashier at the grocery store is going to ring up my produce right, so believing that Jesus rose from the dead would be quite the stretch for me too. I find myself in good company with Thomas. But his wrestling alone isn’t what gives me hope, it’s Jesus’ patience with him.

Let’s go back to that story. It’s Easter Sunday and Jesus has risen from the dead. He appears to the disciples, but for reasons we’re not aware, Thomas isn’t present. Those who were there tell him the whole story - that Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead and visited them! And he’s just supposed to what - believe them?

His response isn’t that far off from what mine would have been: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)

And then a week goes by. A week of Thomas wrestling with the question, “Could it be true?” The wave of emotions Thomas must have experienced - unbelief, despair, sadness… all things we have experienced. Of course, we know now in hindsight that Christ had truly risen, but if we put ourselves in Thomas’ shoes, we would see and understand his hesitation.

When Thomas finally sees the Risen Lord, Jesus meets him - and all his questions, all his doubts, all his wrestling, all his fears - with such patience and gentleness. Jesus invites Thomas to “put your finger here and see My hands and bring your hand and put it into My side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” (v. 27)

This is good news for us. Thomas’ story reveals that Jesus is patient with us as we journey with Him. It’s okay that our experience of the Resurrection takes time. It’s okay if on Easter Sunday morning, we struggle to tangibly experience the hope the day brings. Jesus is so patient.

Jesus invites Thomas, who struggled to believe, to a level of intimacy we don’t hear Him offer to the other apostles - to enter into His resurrected wounds. Caravaggio’s painting of “The Incredulity of Saint Thomas” illustrates this moment beautifully. In the masterpiece, we see that, with Thomas’ permission, Jesus guides his hand into the wound marks. It’s as if Jesus says, “Find here the faith for your unbelief, the hope for your despair, the joy for your sadness, the mercy for your offenses, the peace for your unrest. Find here the answer for all of your questions, the healing for all of your hurting, the fulfillment of all of your desires.”

And what is Thomas’ response to all of this? “My Lord and My God!” (v. 28) In receiving the invitation into Christ’s wounds, his eyes are opened, and the deepest wonder fills his being! 

Friends, what doubts are burdening you today? Where is the wrestling? Where is trusting Jesus difficult? Just because we’ve entered the Easter season, doesn’t mean all our problems disappear. But like Thomas, Jesus invites us - right where we are, with all that we bring - to enter into His resurrected wounds, a place of deep intimacy. 

And how do we do that? We make the time and the space in our lives for honest conversation with the Lord in prayer. We don’t have to hide our fears and doubts from Him. When we bring those questions and concerns to Him, the light of His love will illuminate every darkness. And in the same way that Jesus guided Thomas’ hand into the wound marks, He will guide you and teach you to receive Him as he says, “Find here all that you need.”