The Life and Ministry of Jesus
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:24–25
When we are discouraged and defeated, we need our friends all the more! Solitude only feeds discouragement and helps it grow into self-pity, which is even worse.
Perhaps Thomas was afraid. Thomas was a spiritually minded man who wanted to know the truth and was not ashamed to ask questions. There seems to have been a “pessimistic” outlook in Thomas. We call him “Doubting Thomas,” but Jesus did not rebuke him for his doubts. He rebuked him for unbelief: “Be not faithless, but believing.” Doubt is often an intellectual problem: we want to believe, but the faith is overwhelmed by problems and questions. Unbelief is a moral problem; we simply will not believe. 1
Personal Encouragement
Today is the day of change for you. What is one concern that is continually overwhelming you? Will you surrender it in faith to Jesus right now? Will place the burden into His hands and believe He will take care of it? That means that you can not take it back. You must, in faith, keep surrendering it to Jesus, sometimes a hundred times a day, until your prayer is fully answered. Faith or doubt, it is your choice.
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? John 6:66–69
Doubt leads to a discouraging past, faith leads to a hopeful future.
A Prayer
Lord, please forgive my doubt. Build my life of faith upon Your Holy Word.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.481 The Life and Ministry of Jesus (Beginning May 5th 2024) (plus 4,503 daily studies since Jan 2012).