Thomas wanted proof that the person that the other disciples had said they saw and had called Jesus, was actually their friend, their master, their Lord. And because God is so great and knew that without that proof, he would not believe, he gave it to him. Jesus appeared to him and allowed him to see the wounds that he had received when he was crucified.
That much we know to be true. But what about the rest of the life of Thomas? What does the bible and/or recorded history itself tell us? There is not much but here is what I found.
His nickname was Didymus (the twin) There is only speculation as to why he had this name. Perhaps he had been a twin. Perhaps he had a strong physical appearance to Jesus. It is not really known.
He is mentioned in Mathew, Mark, Luke, and Acts in a very few scriptures. However, in the gospel of John is the account where he wants to see the wounds in the hands and side of Jesus. Math.10:3, Mark3:18, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13 and John 20:24-25.
He was one of the 12 original disciples. And though he has been known as the doubting Thomas down through history, he was really a leader, When Jesus was heading to Judea where the Jews were looking for him to kill him, Thomas said to the others, "Let's go with him, that we may die with him." Later in life, Thomas traveled to the outside of the Roman Empire as a missionary and perhaps as far away as India. And he may have been the first to bring the gospel to the Far East.
He is mentioned in Mathew, Mark, Luke, and Acts in a very few scriptures. However, in the gospel of John is the account where he wants to see the wounds in the hands and side of Jesus. Math.10:3, Mark3:18, Luke 6:15, Acts 1:13 and John 20:24-25.
He was one of the 12 original disciples. And though he has been known as the doubting Thomas down through history, he was really a leader, When Jesus was heading to Judea where the Jews were looking for him to kill him, Thomas said to the others, "Let's go with him, that we may die with him." Later in life, Thomas traveled to the outside of the Roman Empire as a missionary and perhaps as far away as India. And he may have been the first to bring the gospel to the Far East.
Not much is known about his death. Church traditions say that while he was establishing a church in India, he was stabbed to death with a spear. There are no known facts beyond his death.
In conclusion, he was not anymore a doubter than anyone that had been told that Jesus was alive, but had not actually seen him-until they actually had. He had a strong faith in God and God used him as to his glory to carry the gospel to those that did not know him.
Could we be given that label at the end of our lives? Or could we have had the kind of faith that Thomas had? I hope we opt for the latter because there are too many doubters and in the end, the answer to that question will make all of the difference to each of us when it comes to whether or not we really do believe in Christ.
Sources for today: Scripture, The apostle Thomas: the infographic | Overview Bible and
The Apostle Thomas Biography, Doubting, Life and Death
Up tomorrow: Jude
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