One of the problems with Christians is we focus on the large characters of the Bible and often forget some of the smaller characters. We are always talking about men like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Matthew, Peter and Paul. Please know that all of these Bible characters have much to say to us and we should spend time learning from them.

But there are those who take a smaller role that we can learn much from. One of those characters comes from the New Testament and his name is Thomas. Through the years he has been nicknamed Doubting Thomas.

We all know the story about after the burial of Jesus the disciples were all in disarray and all their hope in Jesus was gone. Then he appeared to them, all but Thomas. You remember Thomas’ reaction–I will believe when I see the nail prints in the hands and put my hand into his side. The truth is Thomas was expressing his true feelings, something that most of us are guilty of not doing.

Unfortunately, as human beings that is all we focus on–Thomas the doubter. He should be ashamed. Surely, I would not have been that way. So, we over look all the valuable lessons in this story.

There are some interesting things we know about Thomas. First of all, he was one of the twelve chosen by Jesus. That makes him important. Second, we know that he had a great commitment to Jesus. In John 11, when Jesus wanted to go to Jerusalem the majority of the disciples tried to discourage him from going. It was Thomas who said “Let us also go, that we might die with him.”

And we know that he doubted. He had a time when his faith faltered. We must remember that God inspired this story to be included in the Holy Scripture so it must surely be important. There must be a lesson or two for us to learn. I ask you to go with me as we look at when Jesus confronts this doubter.

First lesson is that Jesus comes in peace. When we have failed him so miserably, he always comes consoling, the older I get the more I see that Jesus comes in peace, love and forgiveness. So often we want to criticize and judge someone and we do it in the name of Jesus, when the truth is this is the farthest thing from Jesus.

Second, he revealed that he knew that Thomas doubted his resurrection. You and I are always trying to hide the truth from Jesus when he knows who we are. What we believe and how we act. He knows.

Third, he is willing to present to us and encourages us to examine the evidence. He lovingly says to Thomas “feel the prints.” When I have messed up in my life and Jesus has every right to turn his back and walk away from me, what does he do? He says to me, “Randy let’s take a moment and let us look at what the evidence says.” It always says he loves me and forgives me.

And the fourth thing is there is no mean-spirited rebuke of Thomas. Here is a man who had loved Jesus and now stood before him guilty of faithlessness and Jesus merely says “stop doubting and believe.” Oh, my friend, what encouraging words those are.

Here is the great truth of this story. When we allow ourselves to have the faith, we should have things begin to happen in our lives. First, begin to know who to trust. Second, we begin to know who the servant is.

When we arrive at this place–where there is faith there is true worship. Where there is true worship then there is true service. Old traditions say that Thomas went on to serve the Lord faithfully in Parthia, Persia and India with him being killed for his faith by a poison dart.

Let this be our goal for the New Year… “stop doubting and believe.”