“Doubting Thomas!” someone shouted. “That's what we should call you!”

The room filled with laughter as the others in the room agreed.

“Doubting Thomas,” someone else chimed in. “He won't even believe his closest friends.”

Thomas hung his head. It had been a long and puzzling week. Last Sunday night all the disciples had been together except for Thomas. They told Thomas that Jesus had appeared to them that day.

“That's impossible!” Thomas said. “I watched Jesus die on the cross.”

“So did we,” John said, sitting beside his friend. “But we also saw Jesus on the third day after He died, and He is alive!”

“Don't you remember?” Peter said. “Just a few weeks ago when we were on our way to Jerusalem, Jesus told us He was going to suffer and die but rise again on the third day. Well, it happened, Thomas! He died, and He rose.”

Thomas thought for a minute. “I think I remember that. But dead men cannot bring themselves back to life! It's impossible.”

“You're right,” John explained. “Humans do not have any power over death. But Jesus was not just a man; He was God, and this proves it.”

Thomas sighed. He wanted to believe. He really did. He wished so much that he could have been with the disciples last week when Jesus had first appeared.

“If only I could see Him myself,” Thomas said, “then I think I could believe. If I could see where the nails pierced His hands and where the spear pierced His side, I might believe.”

The disciples shook their heads and turned back to their meal. Thomas felt very alone. He could not eat. He thought about leaving when suddenly he heard a familiar voice.

“Peace be with you.”

Thomas froze. He knew that voice. He slowly lifted his head and looked into the eyes of Jesus. The man that Thomas had watched die over a week ago stood before him.

The room was quiet. Everyone waited to see what would happen next. Jesus moved closer to Thomas. As He walked, He reached out His hands.

“Thomas,” Jesus said gently, “touch my hand.”

Thomas reached out, and Jesus took his hand. Jesus ran Thomas' shaky fingers over the nail marks.

“Touch my side, Thomas,” Jesus said as He guided the disciple's hand to the spot where the spear had pierced Him.

Thomas looked away. He should have believed when the disciples told him Jesus was alive. More important, he should have believed Jesus when He said that He would die and rise again. Thomas felt ashamed.

But instead of making Thomas feel bad, Jesus lovingly said, “Do not doubt any longer, Thomas. Instead, believe!”

Thomas' mind raced. Jesus is really alive! he thought. And if Jesus is alive, He must be God.

Tears ran down Thomas' cheeks. He bowed down on his knees and quietly declared, “My Lord and my God.”

Jesus pulled Thomas to his feet and hugged him tightly. Stepping back, Jesus said, “You believe because you have seen me. You saw for yourself that I have risen from the dead and am alive. But blessed are those who have not seen me but still believe.”

Believe the Unbelievable

Thomas grew up near the Sea of Galilee and was a fisherman. He knew Jesus for three years. After seeing the risen Christ, Thomas became an energetic preacher, telling thousands of people about Jesus the Messiah. He traveled along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, sailed to the west coast of India and became a hero of the faith by spreading the Gospel far and wide.

Why do you think Thomas did not believe Jesus when He said He would die and rise again? How did Thomas feel after Jesus appeared to him? Even though we have not seen or touched Jesus, we can believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Read Mark 8:31 and trust the words of Jesus.