{"id":44448,"date":"2024-01-18T10:52:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-18T07:52:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44448"},"modified":"2025-05-06T19:24:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T16:24:25","slug":"remember-thomas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2024\/01\/18\/remember-thomas\/","title":{"rendered":"REMEMBER THOMAS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Greetings <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>name <\/span>of <\/span>our <\/span>Lord <\/span>and <\/span>Savior, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ. <\/span>Let <\/span>us <\/span>take <\/span>a <\/span>moment <\/span>to <\/span>reflect <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>Good <\/span>News <\/span>through <\/span>the <\/span>life <\/span>of <\/span>one <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus’ <\/span>apostles: <\/span>Thomas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas, <\/span>also <\/span>called <\/span>Didymus (<\/span>meaning “<\/span>Twin”), <\/span>was <\/span>one <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Twelve <\/span>Apostles <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus. <\/span>He <\/span>was <\/span>not <\/span>like <\/span>Judas <\/span>Iscariot, <\/span>the <\/span>one <\/span>who <\/span>betrayed <\/span>the <\/span>Lord. <\/span>In <\/span>fact, <\/span>Thomas <\/span>once <\/span>boldly <\/span>declared <\/span>his <\/span>willingness <\/span>to <\/span>die <\/span>with <\/span>Jesus. <\/span>When <\/span>Jesus <\/span>announced <\/span>His <\/span>plan <\/span>to <\/span>return <\/span>to <\/span>Judea <\/span>despite <\/span>the <\/span>danger, <\/span>Thomas <\/span>said <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>others, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Let <\/span>us <\/span>also <\/span>go, <\/span>that <\/span>we <\/span>may <\/span>die <\/span>with <\/span>him\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>John <\/span>11:<\/span>16, <\/span>NIV). <\/span>This <\/span>shows <\/span>that <\/span>Thomas <\/span>deeply <\/span>loved <\/span>Jesus <\/span>and <\/span>was <\/span>ready <\/span>to <\/span>risk <\/span>his <\/span>life <\/span>for <\/span>Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, <\/span>Thomas <\/span>had <\/span>a <\/span>different <\/span>kind <\/span>of <\/span>weakness\u2014<\/span>a <\/span>tendency <\/span>toward <\/span>doubt <\/span>and <\/span>skepticism, <\/span>especially <\/span>concerning <\/span>the <\/span>power <\/span>of <\/span>God. <\/span>This <\/span>inner <\/span>struggle <\/span>affected <\/span>not <\/span>only <\/span>his <\/span>faith <\/span>but <\/span>also <\/span>his <\/span>spiritual <\/span>participation <\/span>and <\/span>presence <\/span>among <\/span>the <\/span>other <\/span>apostles.<\/span><\/p>\n

After <\/span>the <\/span>resurrection, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>appeared <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>disciples <\/span>when <\/span>they <\/span>were <\/span>gathered <\/span>together <\/span>in <\/span>fear, <\/span>praying <\/span>behind <\/span>locked <\/span>doors. <\/span>But <\/span>Thomas <\/span>was <\/span>not <\/span>with <\/span>them. <\/span>His <\/span>absence <\/span>was <\/span>significant. <\/span>He <\/span>missed <\/span>a <\/span>divine <\/span>encounter <\/span>that <\/span>his <\/span>fellow <\/span>disciples <\/span>experienced. <\/span>Later, <\/span>when <\/span>they <\/span>joyfully <\/span>told <\/span>him, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>We <\/span>have <\/span>seen <\/span>the <\/span>Lord!\u201d<\/span><\/em>, <\/span>Thomas <\/span>responded <\/span>with <\/span>unbelief:<\/span>
“<\/span>Unless <\/span>I <\/span>see <\/span>the <\/span>nail <\/span>marks <\/span>in <\/span>his <\/span>hands <\/span>and <\/span>put <\/span>my <\/span>finger <\/span>where <\/span>the <\/span>nails <\/span>were, <\/span>and <\/span>put <\/span>my <\/span>hand <\/span>into <\/span>his <\/span>side, <\/span>I <\/span>will <\/span>not <\/span>believe\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>John <\/span>20:<\/span>25, <\/span>NIV).<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>moment <\/span>reflects <\/span>the <\/span>danger <\/span>of <\/span>spiritual <\/span>isolation <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>cost <\/span>of <\/span>withdrawing <\/span>from <\/span>fellowship. <\/span>Thomas’s <\/span>doubts <\/span>might <\/span>have <\/span>been <\/span>fueled <\/span>by <\/span>discouragement, <\/span>confusion, <\/span>or <\/span>personal <\/span>despair\u2014<\/span>but <\/span>in <\/span>distancing <\/span>himself <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>community, <\/span>he <\/span>distanced <\/span>himself <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>very <\/span>place <\/span>where <\/span>Christ <\/span>revealed <\/span>Himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eight <\/span>days <\/span>later, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>appeared <\/span>again\u2014<\/span>this <\/span>time, <\/span>Thomas <\/span>was <\/span>present. <\/span>Jesus, <\/span>in <\/span>His <\/span>mercy, <\/span>addressed <\/span>Thomas <\/span>directly:<\/span>
“<\/span>Put <\/span>your <\/span>finger <\/span>here; <\/span>see <\/span>my <\/span>hands. <\/span>Reach <\/span>out <\/span>your <\/span>hand <\/span>and <\/span>put <\/span>it <\/span>into <\/span>my <\/span>side. <\/span>Stop <\/span>doubting <\/span>and <\/span>believe\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>John <\/span>20:<\/span>27, <\/span>NIV).<\/span><\/p>\n

Thomas <\/span>was <\/span>overcome <\/span>with <\/span>faith <\/span>and <\/span>declared, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>My <\/span>Lord <\/span>and <\/span>my <\/span>God!\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>John <\/span>20:<\/span>28, <\/span>NIV). <\/span>Jesus <\/span>replied, <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Because <\/span>you <\/span>have <\/span>seen <\/span>me, <\/span>you <\/span>have <\/span>believed; <\/span>blessed <\/span>are <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>have <\/span>not <\/span>seen <\/span>and <\/span>yet <\/span>have <\/span>believed\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>John <\/span>20:<\/span>29, <\/span>NIV).<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>story <\/span>teaches <\/span>us <\/span>several <\/span>key <\/span>theological <\/span>truths:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    God <\/span>honors <\/span>honest <\/span>doubts<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>but <\/span>calls <\/span>us <\/span>toward <\/span>trust <\/span>and <\/span>belief.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    There <\/span>is <\/span>spiritual <\/span>power <\/span>in <\/span>community<\/span><\/strong>\u2014<\/span>some <\/span>divine <\/span>revelations <\/span>come <\/span>when <\/span>we <\/span>are <\/span>gathered <\/span>together<\/span><\/em> in <\/span>unity (<\/span>see <\/span>Matthew <\/span>18:<\/span>20).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Isolation <\/span>can <\/span>hinder <\/span>faith<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>especially <\/span>during <\/span>trials. <\/span>Even <\/span>when <\/span>we <\/span>don\u2019t <\/span>feel <\/span>strong, <\/span>staying <\/span>in <\/span>fellowship <\/span>can <\/span>position <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>receive <\/span>encouragement, <\/span>strength, <\/span>and <\/span>even <\/span>encounters <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>risen <\/span>Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let <\/span>us, <\/span>therefore, <\/span>not <\/span>give <\/span>up <\/span>meeting <\/span>together, <\/span>as <\/span>some <\/span>are <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>habit <\/span>of <\/span>doing, <\/span>but <\/span>encouraging <\/span>one <\/span>another<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>Hebrews <\/span>10:<\/span>25, <\/span>NIV). <\/span>Avoid <\/span>spiritual <\/span>absenteeism. <\/span>Don\u2019t <\/span>let <\/span>disappointment <\/span>or <\/span>doubt <\/span>drive <\/span>you <\/span>into <\/span>isolation. <\/span>Stay <\/span>connected. <\/span>Stay <\/span>prayerful. <\/span>Stay <\/span>present. <\/span>Some <\/span>blessings <\/span>and <\/span>revelations <\/span>are <\/span>meant <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>received <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>presence <\/span>of <\/span>others.<\/span><\/p>\n

    May <\/span>the <\/span>Lord <\/span>help <\/span>us <\/span>to <\/span>remain <\/span>faithful <\/span>and <\/span>steadfast, <\/span>especially <\/span>in <\/span>moments <\/span>of <\/span>uncertainty. <\/span>Like <\/span>Thomas, <\/span>we <\/span>may <\/span>doubt\u2014<\/span>but <\/span>let <\/span>us <\/span>remain <\/span>where <\/span>Christ <\/span>can <\/span>find <\/span>us: <\/span>among <\/span>His <\/span>people.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Shalom.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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    \u00a0<\/div>\n<\/form><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n