A Skeptic from the Beginning
Thomas was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, and even if your knowledge of Christian literature is small, you’ve probably heard the saying: “So-and-so is like Saint Thomas: needs to see to believe.” This is how Thomas is most remembered: the unbelieving disciple.
Even before Thomas doubted the resurrection, the accounts already make it clear that he wasn’t a man who accepted any kind of explanation. Look, for example, at this excerpt from a conversation between the disciples and Jesus.
Continuing the conversation, Jesus said: — “Don’t be distressed, trust in me. I am going to my Father’s house and I will take you with me.” But Thomas answered: “Lord, we have no idea where you are going. Why do you think we know the way?” — John 14
Instead of easily accepting what Jesus was saying, Thomas questions. He makes it clear that either what Jesus said wasn’t true, or at least, didn’t make sense to Thomas at that moment. If you, like me, are one of those who likes to ask “Why?”, you can believe that, unlike most, you’ll be grateful to Thomas and his skeptical way of facing the world.
No proof? Then don’t come to me with whining.
Thomas wasn’t with them when Jesus appeared. The disciples told him: “We saw the Lord.” But he answered: “Unless I see the holes from the nails in his hands, put my finger in them and touch his side, I won’t believe.” — John 20
Who can blame him? Thomas’ critics quickly point out his stubbornness and insistence that he didn’t just need to see, but also to touch. And it wasn’t enough for him to merely see the body of someone who looked like Jesus. He wanted to touch the wounds! His critics quickly shout: “What a stubborn skeptic!”
But think with me — aren’t you glad that at least one person didn’t accept the rumor as truth without even pausing to ponder the size of the implication of what was being said? Someone who knew how to value proofs and evidence over mere sentimentalism? Someone who knew that wounds like those couldn’t be faked, and so refused to accept anything less than touching them?
If you have trouble believing in the resurrection, you’re in good company. The story of the resurrection includes many people who doubted — Jesus’ close friends, his brothers, his Greek and Roman contemporaries, and an uncountable number of Jews. Let’s see some examples in the eyewitness accounts:
According to Doctor Luke, the first time the disciples heard that Jesus had risen “they did not believe the women, for what they were saying seemed like madness to them” Luke 24. That’s exactly what you just read! Thomas wasn’t the only one to doubt. All the disciples, upon hearing the report that Jesus had risen from the dead, thought it was nonsense, women’s madness. They question. Even Peter, who would later become the leader of the Christian movement, didn’t believe right away: ”… but Peter ran to the tomb…” Luke 24. His response is like mine, skeptical. He runs out to see with his own eyes because he wouldn’t accept believing what only others had seen.
All of them question the account. Their faith is tested. And the doubts are just beginning.
See, for example, how Mary Magdalene, a close follower of Jesus, behaves: “Mary was outside the tomb, weeping. Then one of the men asked her: ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ And she, still weeping, answered: ‘They have taken my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him. Please, if you took him, tell me where you put him so that I can take care of his body.’ (John 20) Mary’s first thought is not that a miracle happened and Jesus rose, but that, although the tomb was indeed empty, the most logical explanation was that someone had stolen the body.
The resurrection was as improbable for Mary and the disciples back then as it is improbable for you today. Don’t let your prejudice label the people of that time as primitive and naive just because you live in the post-Enlightenment era. Make no mistake — even ignoring the science of the time, there were no philosophical or theological foundations in the head of a first-century Jew for him to believe that someone could rise from the dead[1].
According to Luke, some of the disciples did not believe, even after seeing him alive, in front of them! “…while Jesus showed them his muscles and bones as well as his wounds in his hands and feet, they did not believe their eyes and, scared to death, thought they were seeing a ghost. They could not believe what they were seeing.” (Luke 24)
Notice that at no point does the compiler of these events, whether Luke, Mark, or John, try to force you to accept everything they’re saying without question. They are the first to make clear that, according to the accounts the eyewitnesses themselves gave them, most of them had some difficulty accepting what happened in those days after the crucifixion.
Every history, like all knowledge, depends on testimony.
Historically speaking, testimonies are a unique way of accessing historical realities. The gospels, in turn, are a collection of testimonies. That doesn’t mean they are testimony instead of history. It means that the kind of historiography they are is testimony.
Trusting a testimony is not an irrational act of faith that sets aside critical and rational thought.
For a moment, try to put yourself in Thomas’ place. If you spent the last 3 whole years living with Jesus, if you could easily recognize his way of speaking and walking, if you found his Galilean accent funny and embraced his teachings. If you had seen his miracles and witnessed his death. Then suddenly, you start hearing from close friends you trust that Jesus came back from the dead, proving he wasn’t just a spirit. Wouldn’t you also doubt? Wouldn’t you ask for proof? I certainly would.
Now, put yourself in Jesus’ place. You spent all that time with Thomas, invested everything you had in him, prayed nonstop for him, told him several times about the imminence of your death and resurrection — and then, when you appear back, he doubts you. Even after the other ten disciples assured him that they saw you risen and that you sat and ate fish with them. How would you behave? Would your patience be exhausted? I know myself, I know what I would have done. I would have used Thomas as an example of what not to do, scolded him, and disappeared without using the door to leave.
God gave us a mind to think
But that’s not what Jesus does. On the contrary. Jesus makes room for doubts — first the disciples’, and later Thomas’; see the witnesses’ account: “he said: Don’t be worried and don’t let doubt take over you. Look at my hands. Look at my feet — it’s me! Touch me. Examine me from head to toe. A ghost doesn’t have muscles and bones. — And as he was saying this, he showed them his hands and his feet.” — Luke 24; and when days later he met Thomas, he said: “Examine my hands. Touch my side. Believe!” — John 20
Jesus’ invitation was never for you to set aside your reasoning and take a leap into the dark. No! He invites you to sit down with him and touch him. The written records of the eyewitness statements don’t use fable-like language. They aren’t an epic. There’s no attempt to narrate a Jesus who flew, or who took revenge on his enemies, or whose body was magically healed of all its wounds. Or disciples who didn’t hesitate to believe the story. On the contrary, the accounts are simple — just bare narration of the facts.
For those who are skeptical and have trouble believing, Jesus is ready to listen to your questions. If you identify with Thomas. If you have doubts about the resurrection, you’re in good company. Jesus understands your doubts and welcomes them.
[1] Much more information would be needed to corroborate my statement above. This text does not aim to be a deep study of the Jewish worldview in the first century. Still in this month of March, I’ll write a text about that with an extensive bibliographic reference for those who want to dig deeper into the subject.