The Gospel for Doubters, Good News Through the Eyes of ThomasSample

Jesus is not inhospitable to those who doubt, those who seek earnestly for the truth. Thomas stands in a long and illustrious line of those whose journey of faith began with questions. David, Abraham, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Paul, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and even Martha and her complaining. And throughout church history, those who come with their honest questions and are willing to accept what or, more to the point, Who they find at the end of their quest, find faith. C. S. Lewis, Lew Wallace (author of Ben-Hur), Lee Strobel, and so many others are examples. Thomas’ words recorded in the Bible are few, but the questions he asked opened the door to some of the most powerful statements in all of Scripture: Jesus’ declaration that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and Thomas’s heartfelt “My Lord and my God!”

And even after we follow Jesus, we will still have questions. Questions are a sign of humility that there is a big God whom we can’t possibly fully comprehend with our finite minds. Jesus visits those weak in faith, like the man who exclaimed to Jesus, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Jesus is beckoning doubters to come and see, to look at the facts of His resurrection, and His proof of His deity, but more importantly to answer His summons to hope and joy and forgiveness and grace. I think right now of the beautiful hymn that has stirred the hearts of so many pilgrims and brings wanderers back home:

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling

Calling for you and for me

See on the portholes

He’s waiting and watching

Watching for you and for me

Come home, come home

You who are weary come home

Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling

Calling, “O sinner, come home.”

I can’t type these words without tears coming to my eyes. There is a bit of Thomas in all of us, walls of hurt and pain that fuel our doubts and fears. But Jesus turns to us with His scars, the wounds on His body that was beaten for us and says to us, “Peace be with you.” In a sense, this is what we do every time we gather together for the Lord’s Supper. This is what we are doing on Good Friday. We are pulling each other from despondency and despair back to the body and blood of Christ. We are reminded anew of His love for us.

If you are a doubter, like Thomas, take heart that many more like you have walked this pathway home. If you are a wandering prodigal, know there is a welcome mat in the kingdom of God for your return.

Thomas, tradition says, not only was a believer, but became an evangelist to India and established churches there until he died as a martyr. And thus we see the power of the resurrection to change lives. 

Discussion question: Ask yourself: Are my questions and doubts legitimate or are they sinful? Can I bring my doubts to Jesus? 

We hope you have enjoyed this seven-day plan from author Dan Darling.  If you’ve found this plan helpful, we think you’d benefit from a special devotional Dan put together: 7 Biblical Characters Who Doubted God. He de-stigmatizes wrestling with faith and is an encouragement to all those who cry, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Download the study for free at danieldarling.com.