24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.” 26Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then 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.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
If I were to ask you this question, how would you answer it? “Who is this text about? Who are the main characters?” As you think about the text, what would your answer be? For one, the text is about Jesus. He is one of the main characters. However, He isn’t the only main character. The other is… Thomas, or Doubting Thomas, as we commonly know him.
We typically know this text as Doubting Thomas, and to be honest, that is a little unfair. The text never calls him “Doubting Thomas”; it is typically a nickname we have associated with him. And out of all of the disciples, especially those with a speaking part (Thomas has three in the Gospel of John), he is the one who is typically remembered by his sin and failure with the exception of “Judas the Betrayer” (that isn’t great company to be in, is it?). We don’t call Peter something like this: “Impetuous Peter” (although that would capture him well). We don’t give nicknames to the other disciples who were just as slow to believe as Thomas was. Unfortunately, Thomas gets a bad rap!
What sins or “nicknames” have been stuck to you, whether fairly, or not? What things do we associate with ourselves? What things have we not been able to shake? What sins seem to stick to us like glue?
Just like with Thomas, the Risen Lord gives us the same address: “Peace be with you!” Jesus’ peace forgives our sin and makes us right with God. Jesus’ peace gives us a new identity and new life. Jesus’ peace places a new name upon us: His! In baptism, His name has been placed upon us, giving us a new identity. Those sins or nicknames don’t define us! Our new identity in Jesus does.
So, who is this text about? Who are the main characters? It is about Jesus … and Thomas.
Christ is Risen!
Pastor Nick Kooi
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XXVI No. 10 – May 2025.)