Thomas, Called Didymus
Introduction: Thomas was one of the twelve disciples chosen by Christ Jesus to become an apostle to spread the gospel to all the world. He has become known by many as the “doubting Thomas,” but did he really have more doubts than some of the others as recorded by scripture? We can take comfort from his individual personality, and apply what we can learn about him in a very positive manner if we examine some key passages.
NOTE: All Bible passages are taken from the World English Bible.
A — Thomas Among the Twelve
Luke 6 “12 It happened in these days, that he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. 13 When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; 15 Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor.”
Luke 9 “1 He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them forth to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 6 They departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere.”
Comments: The first mention of Thomas comes when Jesus called twelve men to be apostles after he had prayed all night. Matthew, Mark, and Luke each provide the list of the twelve apostles with slight variations in the details. Jesus appointed them to be with him, and to send them out to preach, with authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons. All three of the lists of apostles identify Judas as the one who was a betrayer. The twelve did go out preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and healing everywhere.
B — The Twelve Didn’t Understand the Coming Death and Resurrection
Mark 9 “31 For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, ‘The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again.’ 32 But they didn’t understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.”
Matthew 16 “16 Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ 17 Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’ 21 From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. 22 Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.’ 23 But he turned, and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.’”
Comments: Jesus told the disciples the Son of man would be handed over to men and killed, and then rise again the third day. None of them understood what he meant by that, and no one was brave enough to ask him to explain. When Peter declared that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus said Peter was blessed, for flesh and blood had not revealed this to him, but the Father in heaven. This truth must always be revealed by God, not by man alone. When Jesus told them what was ahead for him at Jerusalem, Peter took Jesus aside and told him that should never happen to him. This brought the strong response from Jesus that Peter was thinking only about things men desire, and not of the things of God.
C — Thomas Was Loyal Enough Even to Die with Jesus
John 11 “7 Then after this he said to the disciples, ‘Let’s go into Judea again.’ 8 The disciples told him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and are you going there again?’ 14 So Jesus said to them plainly then, ‘Lazarus is dead. 15 I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him.’ 16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let’s go also, that we may die with him.’”
Comments: The disciples questioned the wisdom of returning to Judea since the Jews there had sought to stone him. Jesus told them Lazarus had fallen asleep and he would awaken him. They misunderstood this, so Jesus then plainly told them that Lazarus was dead. He then said let us go to him. There is no indication that any of the twelve knew what Jesus would do when they arrived, but Thomas is the one who spoke up and encouraged his fellow disciples to go with Jesus even if it meant they would die with him. The name Thomas is Hebrew for twin, and the Greek equivalent for that name is Didymus.
D — The Apostles Were Puzzled by Things at the Last Supper
John 13 “21 When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, ‘Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.’ 28 Now no man at the table knew why he said this to him. 33 Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you. 36 Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.’ 37 Peter said to him, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ 38 Jesus answered him, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I tell you, the rooster won’t crow until you have denied me three times.’”
Comments: Judas went out from the others after Jesus told him to do quickly what he was going to do, but none of the others knew why he said this to him. When Jesus said the Son of Man had been glorified, and God has been glorified in him, the eleven showed no sign of understanding. Jesus addressed the eleven as little children, and said he would be with them only a little while longer. When Peter asked the Lord where he was going, Jesus said Peter could not follow now, but he would follow afterwards. Peter asked why he could not follow now since he would lay down his life for Jesus. Jesus then said Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed.
E — Thomas and Philip Wanted to Understand What Jesus Had Said
John 14 “1 ‘Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many homes. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. 4 Where I go, you know, and you know the way.’ 5 Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ 6 Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.’ 8 Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.’ 9 Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father.’”
Comments: Jesus spoke some words for comfort before presenting them with more puzzling statements. Jesus was going to go away to prepare a place in his Father’s house for them, and he would come again to receive them to himself. When Jesus said they knew where he was going and they knew the way there, Thomas said to the Lord they did not know where he was going, so how could they know the way. The answer from Jesus of a way was not limited by geography. It is the way of truth, when accepted by faith in the heart of a person, that leads to everlasting life with God. This must be revealed by the Holy Spirit. When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus said don’t you know me after being with me such a long time? Those who have seen Jesus, have seen the Father.
F — The Eleven Disciples All Said They Were Willing to Die with Jesus
Mark 14 “27 Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” 29 But Peter said to him, ‘Although all will be offended, yet I will not.’ 30 Jesus said to him, ‘Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ 31 But he spoke all the more, ‘If I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ They all said the same thing.”
Comments: When they went out to the Mount of Olives, Jesus told all of the disciples they would stumble because of Jesus. Peter said he would not stumble, but Jesus said you will deny me three times before the next day. Peter claimed that even if he must die with Jesus he would not deny him. In both Matthew and Mark, it is recorded that all eleven of the disciples agreed with Peter about being willing to die with Jesus.
G — The Risen Christ Revealed Himself to the Disciples
Mark 16 “9 Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved. 13 They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either. 14 Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen.”
Luke 24 “36 As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace be to you.’ 37 But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.’”
Comments: Mark’s gospel records that the disciples did not believe Mary Magdalene, or the two who had seen him on the road. When Jesus appeared to the eleven, he rebuked them for their “unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” Luke’s gospel gives more detail in that same appearance which includes their fear that they were seeing a spirit, and Jesus asked them why doubts were arising in their hearts. He invited them to touch him because he had flesh and bone which a spirit did not have. We need to take special note that after all of this, the text says he opened their minds that they might understand the Scriptures. None of these three gospels give a separate account for Thomas.
H — Did Thomas Doubt More Than the Other Disciples?
John 20 “19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be to you.’ 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ 26 After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace be to you.’ 27 Then he said to Thomas, ‘Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.’ 28 Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
Comments: John does not provide any reason why Thomas had not been with the others. The other disciples told him they had seen the Lord, but they too had previously been unwilling to believe his resurrection until they saw him themselves. Thomas was also among them when they all declared they were willing to die with Jesus at the Mount of Olives. The few mentions of Thomas in scripture seem to indicate his nature to be pragmatic, literal, and perhaps analytical. So when he said he wanted clear evidence for himself to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead, this would have suited such a nature. After eight days, Jesus appeared and invited Thomas to touch his hand and his side, and not to disbelieve, but to believe. There is no indication that Thomas actually touched Jesus, but he immediately exclaimed, “My Lord, and my God!” by that he was saying he believed that Jesus is equal with God the Father. Jesus told Thomas he had believed because he had seen him: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. The Lord has made this conversation very precious to all who now believe that Christ Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life!
I — Jesus Appeared in Galilee After the Resurrection
John 21 “1 After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, ‘I’m going fishing.’ They told him, ‘We are also coming with you.’ That night, they caught nothing. 4 But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. 12 Jesus said to them, ‘Come and eat breakfast.’ None of the disciples dared inquire of him, ‘Who are you?’ knowing that it was the Lord. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.”
Comments: This is the last time Thomas is mentioned by name in the four gospel accounts, and only five of the seven who were present are identified, with Thomas listed just after Peter. When Jesus first spoke from the shore they did not recognize him, so they apparently had no anticipation of this appearance. After they followed his direction about the net, the catch was extraordinary. Because of the catch, when Jesus invited them to come and eat, none of them had any doubt that this was the Lord. There is nothing else specific mentioned about Thomas in this passage. His name appears only once in a list of apostles in the book of Acts, and nowhere else in scripture.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, by examining the passages about Thomas in scripture, and comparing his responses to those of the other apostles, I have considered more thoroughly the ways that you revealed yourself through the truth of your Word. This has also brought out to me that these were normal men with differences in their personalities. All of the apostles were chosen and called by you to walk with you during the fulfillment of much prophecy, and then they became part of the foundation for the building up of your church. You did not choose scholars and teachers of the law who, in large part, had refused to believe the miracles and prophecies that revealed you to be the way, the truth, and the life. Some of your disciples were guided by your Holy Spirit to write scripture that speaks to the heart of those you continue to choose. I thank you, Lord, that you opened my understanding through your word and your Spirit, and your grace brought me to saving faith in the triune God. Hallelujah, amen.
Published 30 September 2015