Joel M Bradshaw

24Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.”

26Eight 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.” 27Then 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.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”–John 20

THE NEED FOR CONTROL. In order for Thomas to have faith he had to have things work out for him a certain way. He controlled the variables and set the terms. And if those terms were not met then he would never believe. Those were his words. The tension here is that so many put conditions on their faith so that it is more about themselves than about Jesus. Thomas was just one step away from being a “Yeah, but.” A “yeah, but” has a never ending list of faith demands and will keep moving the finish line. Jesus showed grace to Thomas and played by his rules.

I love Jesus’ question. It should strike at the heart of every scientist and skeptic. Are you good now? Have you seen what you needed? Is there anything else that is in the way? We might cut Thomas some slack because he had no category for a resurrection. And frankly the other disciples all struggled in some way. But we all need to watch out for placing pre-conditions upon faith. We might call them ‘if only’s’. If only this near impossible thing happens then I will believe. Usually those preconditions involve finances or a loved one’s dire health.

FAITH TRUSTS UNSEEN EVIDENCE. Thomas got his issue satisfied and did in fact respond with a tremendous bit of theology. We all give him that. He proclaimed Jesus to be God. And considering the 11 were all willing to die for their beliefs, this is not a small thing. Jesus resurrected and is God. But Jesus blesses those who only can trust in the message of the eyewitnesses and may never see the risen Jesus in the flesh (this side of eternity!).

The first tension is about needing to see. The second tension involves not being able to see. I have journeyed with people who wanted to trust Jesus in faith, but there were things in the way. And some like Thomas got their issues satisfied and ran to Jesus. A couple of them keep moving the finish line and never responded with faith. There was always one or two more things they needed to have answered. And frankly, the person who demands a precondition will always do so. It will be just one more thing. That’s why the grace of Jesus here and the response of Thomas is so profound.

So what tension describes your story? The modern Christian can only depend upon what the Bible proclaims. We see the power of the resurrected Jesus as His Bible transforms relationships and people. We see the hope that only Jesus provides and that changes our perspectives. We see the prayers that only God can answer get answered. But what if we didn’t? Would the testimony of the Bible be enough?–JMB