I’m indebted to my friend Hanh for this new perspective on Thomas. Yes, good old “Doubting Thomas.”

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So 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.” (John 20.24, 25, ESV)

Hanh believes that Thomas was simply not content to ride on others’ experience of Jesus. Hanh points out that John’s gospel is full of people having individual encounters with Jesus:

• Nicodemus (John 3)
• The Woman at the Well (John 4)
• The villagers she invited: what did they say?

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4.39 – 42, ESV, emphasis mine)

• The man born blind (John 9)
• And now Thomas

Thomas becomes the prototype, not of doubters, but of all those who want a personal encounter with Jesus. We can’t base a life on our parents’ faith, our pastors’ faith, our friends’ faith. There comes a time when it has to become our faith. Our encounter with Jesus.

Then 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.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20.27, 28, ESV)