December 2, 2023 – Does the Bible Say…?  

“Does the Bible say why Thomas missed the first resurrection appearance of Jesus?”

“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:19-29

Where was Thomas? Where was Thomas? The other disciples got the memo that they were gathering in the Upper Room that evening – the pressure was mounting – people were beginning to make accusations against them. They needed to continue to meet, to pray, to wait. Most importantly, they needed to stay together. It is for all of these reasons they gathered in the Upper Room – and were praying. But someone had to notice that they were short one person. Where was Thomas?

Perhaps Thomas couldn’t get past the horrors of the cross. He and the other disciples were devastated by the death of Christ. We know they were all afraid. So maybe Thomas was more afraid than the others. As such, perhaps he just didn’t believe Jesus was coming back. After all if Thomas believed Christ was going to show up that evening he would have been there.

We know that grief can cause us to lose hope. And when we lose hope, we lose faith – and when we lose faith, we lose mission. Watching Jesus die on the cross could have convinced him that Jesus’ mission and ministry died with him.

So we just do not know why Thomas was not there. But we do know he did not miss the next opportunity to see the risen Christ.

Pastor Dave