JESUS AND THOMAS.
I have a life in Christ to live,
I have a death in Christ to die;
And must I wait till science give
All doubts a full reply?
Nay, rather while the sea of doubt
Is raging wildly round about,
Questioning of life and death and sin,
Let me but creep within
Thy fold, O Christ! and at thy feet
Take but the lowest seat.
PRINCIPAL SHAIRP.
There is no record of the beginning of the friendship of Jesus and
Thomas. We do not know when Thomas became a disciple, nor what first
drew him to Jesus. Did a friend bring him? Did he learn of the new
rabbi through the fame of him that went everywhere, and then come to
him without solicitation? Did he hear him speak one day, and find
himself drawn to him by the power of his gracious words? Or did Jesus
seek him out in his home or at his work, and call him to be a follower?
We do not know. The manner of his coming is veiled in obscurity. The
first mention of his name is in the list of the Twelve. As the
apostles were chosen from the much larger company of those who were
already disciples, Thomas must have been a follower of Jesus before he
was an apostle. He and Jesus had been friends for some time, and there
is evidence that the friendship was a very close and tender one. Even
in the scant material available for the making up of the story, we find
evidence in Thomas of strong loyalty and unwavering devotion, and in
Jesus of marvellous patience and gentleness toward his disciple.
We have in the New Testament many wonderfully lifelike portraits.
Occurring again and again, they are always easily recognizable. In
every mention of Peter, for example, the man is indubitably the same.
He is always active, speaking or acting; not always wisely, but in
every case characteristically,--impetuous, self-confident, rash, yet
ever warm-hearted. We would know him unmistakably in every incident in
which he appears, even if his name were not given. John, too, whenever
we see him, is always the same,--reverent, quiet, affectionate,
trustful, the disciple of love. Andrew appears only a few times, but
in each of these cases he is engaged in the same way,--bringing some
one to Jesus. Mary of Bethany comes into the story on only three
occasions; but always we see her in the same attitude,--at Jesus'
feet,--while Martha is ever active in her serving.
The character of Thomas also is sketched in a very striking way. There
are but three incidents in which this apostle appears; but in all of
these the portrait is the same, and is so clear that even Peter's
character is scarcely better known than that of Thomas. He always
looks at the dark side. We think of him as the doubter; but his doubt
is not of the flippant kind which reveals lack of reverence, ofttimes
ignorance and lack of earnest thought; it is rather a constitutional
tendency to question, and to wait for proof which would satisfy the
senses, than a disposition to deny the facts of Christianity. Thomas
was ready to believe, glad to believe, when the proof was sufficient to
convince him. Then all the while he was ardently a true and devoted
friend of Jesus, attached to him, and ready to follow him even to death.
The first incident in which Thomas appears is in connection with the
death of Lazarus. Jesus had now gone beyond the Jordan with his
disciples. The Jews had sought to kill him; and he escaped from their
hands, and went away for safety. When news of the sickness of Lazarus
came, Jesus waited two days, and then said to his disciples, "Let us go
into Judea again." The disciples reminded him of the hatred of the
Jews, and of their recent attempts to kill him. They thought that he
ought not to venture back again into the danger, even for the sake of
carrying comfort to the sorrowing Bethany household. Jesus answered
with a little parable about one's security while walking during the
day. The meaning of the parable was that he had not yet reached the
end of his day, and therefore could safely continue the work which had
been given him to do. Every man doing God's will is immortal till the
work is done. Jesus then announced to his disciples that Lazarus was
dead, and that he was going to waken him.
It is at this point that Thomas appears. He said to his
fellow-disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." He
looked only at the dark side. He took it for granted that if Jesus
returned to Judea he would be killed. He forgot for the time the
divine power of Jesus, and the divine protection which sheltered him
while he was doing the Father's will. He failed to understand the
words Jesus had just spoken about his security until the hours of his
day were finished. He remembered only the bitterness which the Jews
had shown toward Jesus, and their determination to destroy his life.
He had no hope that if Jesus returned they would not carry out their
wicked purpose. There was no blue in the sky for him. He saw only
darkness.
Thomas represents a class of good people who are found in every
community. They see only the sad side of life. No stars shine through
their cypress-trees. In the time of danger they forget that there are
divine refuges into which they may flee and be safe. They know the
promises, and often quote them to others; but when trouble comes upon
them, all these words of God fade out of their minds. In sorrow they
fail to receive any true and substantial comfort from the Scriptures.
Hope dies in their hearts when the shadows gather about them. They
yield to discouragement, and the darkness blots out every star in their
sky. Whatever the trouble may be that comes into their life, they see
the trouble only, and fail to perceive the bright light in the cloud.
This habit of mind adds much to life's hardness. Every burden is
heavier because of the sad heart that beats under it. Every pain is
keener because of the dispiriting which it brings with it. Every
sorrow is made darker by the hopelessness with which it is endured.
Every care is magnified, and the sweetness of every pleasure is
lessened, by this pessimistic tendency. The beauty of the world loses
half its charm in the eyes which see all things in the hue of
despondent feeling. Slightest fears become terrors, and smallest
trials grow into great misfortunes. Our heart makes our world for us;
and if the heart be without hope and cheer, the world is always dark.
We find in life just what we have the capacity to find. One who is
color-blind sees no loveliness in nature. One who has no music in his
soul hears no harmonies anywhere. When fear sits regnant on the
throne, life is full of alarms.
On the other hand, if the heart be full of hope, every joy is doubled,
and half of every trouble vanishes. There are sorrows, but they are
comforted. There are bitter cups, but the bitterness is sweetened.
There are heavy burdens, but the songful spirit lightens them. There
are dangers, but cheerful courage robs them of terror. All the world
is brighter when the light of hope shines within.
But we have read only half the story of the fear of Thomas. He saw
only danger in the Master's return to Judea. "The Jews will kill him;
he will go back to certain death," he said. But Thomas would not
forsake Jesus, though he was going straight to martyrdom. "Let us also
go, that we may die with him." Thus, mingled with his fear, was a
noble and heroic love for Jesus. The hopelessness of Thomas as he
thought of Jesus going to Bethany makes his devotion and his cleaving
to him all the braver and nobler. He was sure it was a walk to death,
but he faltered not in his loyalty.
This is a noble spirit in Thomas, which we would do well to emulate.
It is the true soldier spirit. Its devotion to Christ is absolute, and
its following unconditional. It has only one motive,--love; and one
rule,--obedience. It is not influenced by any question of
consequences; but though it be to certain death, it hesitates not.
This is the kind of discipleship which the Master demands. He who
loves father or mother more than him is not worthy of him. He who
hates not his own life cannot be his disciple. A follower of Jesus
must be ready and willing to follow him to his cross. Thomas proved
his friendship for his Master by a noble heroism. It is the highest
test of courage to go forward unfalteringly in the way of duty when one
sees only personal loss and sacrifice as the result. The soldier who
trembles, and whose face whitens from constitutional physical fear, and
who yet marches steadily into the battle, is braver far than the
soldier who without a tremor presses into the engagement.
The second time at which Thomas appears is in the upper room, after the
Holy Supper had been eaten. Jesus had spoken of the Father's house,
and had said that he was going away to prepare a place for his
disciples, and that then he would come again to receive them unto
himself. Thomas could not understand the Master's meaning, and said,
"Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?"
He would not say he believed until he saw for himself. That is all
that his question in the upper room meant--he wished the Master to make
the great teaching a little plainer. It were well if more Christians
insisted on finding the ground of their faith, the reasons why they are
Christians. Their faith would then be stronger, and less easily
shaken. When trouble comes, or any testing, it would continue firm and
unmoved, because it rests on the rock of divine truth.
The last incident in the story of Thomas is after the resurrection.
The first evening the apostles met in the upper room to talk over the
strange things which had occurred that day. For some reason Thomas was
not at this meeting. We may infer that his melancholy temperament led
him to absent himself. He had loved Jesus deeply, and his sorrow was
very great. There had been rumors all day of Christ's resurrection,
but Thomas put no confidence in these. Perhaps his despondent
disposition made him unsocial, and kept him from meeting with the other
apostles, even to weep with them.
That evening Jesus entered through the closed doors, and stood in the
midst of the disciples, and greeted them as he had done so often
before, "Peace be unto you!" They told Thomas afterwards that they had
seen the Lord. But he refused to believe them; that is, he doubted the
reality of what they thought they had seen. He said that they had been
deceived; and he asserted that he must not only see for himself, but
must have the opportunity of subjecting the evidence to the severest
test. He must see the print of the nails, and must also be permitted
to put his finger into the place.
It is instructive to think of what this doubting disposition of Thomas
cost him. First, it kept him from the meeting of the disciples that
evening, when all the others came together. He shut himself up with
his gloom and sadness. His grief was hopeless, and he would not seek
comfort. The consequence was, that when Jesus entered the room, and
showed himself to his friends, Thomas missed the revealing which gave
them such unspeakable gladness. From that hour their sorrow was
changed to joy; but for the whole of another week Thomas remained in
the darkness in which the crucifixion had infolded him.
Doubt is always costly. It shuts out heavenly comfort. There are many
Christian people who, especially in the first shock of sorrow, have an
experience similar to that of Thomas. They shut themselves up with
their grief, and refuse to accept the comfort of the gospel of Christ.
They turn away their ears from the voices of love which speak to them
out of the Bible, and will not receive the divine consolations. The
light shines all about them; but they close doors and windows, and keep
it from entering the darkened chamber where they sit. The music of
peace floats on the air in sweet, entrancing strains, but no gentle
note finds its way to their hearts.
Too many Christian mourners fail to find comfort in their sorrow. They
believe the great truths of Christianity, that Jesus died for them and
rose again; but their faith fails them for the time in the hour of
sorest distress. Meanwhile they walk in darkness as Thomas did. On
the other hand, those who accept, and let into their hearts the great
truths of Christ's resurrection and the immortal life in Christ, feel
the pain of parting no less sorely, but they find abundant consolation
in the hope of eternal life for those whom they have lost for a time.
We have an illustration of the deep, tender, patient, and wise
friendship of Jesus for Thomas in the way he treated this doubt of his
apostle. He did not say that if Thomas could not believe the witness
of the apostles to his resurrection he must remain in the darkness
which his unbelief had made for him. He treated his doubt with
exceeding gentleness, as a skilful physician would deal with a
dangerous wound. He was in no haste. A full week passed before he did
anything. During those days the sad heart had time to react, to
recover something of its self-poise. Thomas still persisted in his
refusal to believe, but when a week had gone he found his way with the
others to their meeting. Perhaps their belief in the Lord's
resurrection made such a change in them, so brightened and transformed
them, that Thomas grew less positive in his unbelief as he saw them day
after day. At least he was ready now to be convinced. He wanted to
believe.
That night Jesus came again into the room, the doors being shut, and
standing in the midst of his friends, breathed again upon them his
benediction of peace. Then he turned to Thomas; and holding out his
hands, with the print of the nails in them, he asked him to put the
evidences of his resurrection to the very tests he had said he must
make before he could believe. Now Thomas was convinced. He did not
make the tests he had insisted that he must make. There was no need
for it. To look into the face of Jesus, to hear his voice, and to see
the prints of the nails in his hands, was evidence enough even for
Thomas. All his doubts were swept away. Falling at the Master's feet,
he exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!"
Thus the gentleness of Jesus in dealing with his doubts saved Thomas
from being an unbeliever. It is a great thing to have a wise and
faithful friend when one is passing through an experience of doubt.
Many persons are only confirmed in their scepticism by the well-meant
but unwise efforts that are made to convince them of the truth
concerning which they doubt. It is not argument that they need, but
the patience of love, which waits in silence till the right time comes
for words, and which then speaks but little. Thomas was convinced, not
by words, but by seeing the proofs of Christ's love in the prints of
the nails.
We may be glad now that Thomas was hard to convince of the truth of
Christ's resurrection. It makes the proofs more indubitable to us that
one even of the apostles refused at first to believe, and yet at length
was led into triumphant faith. If all the apostles had believed
easily, there would have been no comfort in the gospel for those who
find it hard to believe, and yet who sincerely want to believe. The
fact that one doubted, and even refused to accept the witness of his
fellow-apostles, and then at length was led into clear, strong faith,
forever teaches that doubt is not hopeless. Ofttimes it may be but a
process in the development of faith.
The story of Thomas shows, too, that there may be honest doubt. While
he doubted, he yet loved; perhaps no other one of the apostles loved
Jesus more than did Thomas. He never made any such bold confession as
Peter did, but neither did he ever deny Christ. Thomas has been a
comfort to many because he has shown them that they can be true
Christians, true lovers of Christ, and yet not be able to boast of
their assurance of faith.
No doubt faith is better than questioning, but there may be honest
questioning which yet is intensely loyal to Christ. Questioning, too,
which is eager to find the truth and rest on the rock, may be better
than easy believing, that takes no pains to know the reason of the hope
it cherishes, and lightly recites the noble articles of a creed it has
never seriously studied. Tennyson, in "In Memoriam," tells the story
of a faith that grew strong through its doubting.
You say, but with no touch of scorn,
Sweet-hearted, you, whose light-blue eyes
Are tender over drowning flies,
You tell me, doubt is devil-born.
I know not: one indeed I knew
In many a subtle question versed,
Who touched a jarring lyre at first,
But ever strove to make it true:
Perplext in faith, but pure in deeds,
At last he beat his music out.
There lives more faith in honest doubt,
Believe me, than in half the creeds.
He fought his doubts and gathered strength;
He would not make his judgment blind,
He faced the spectres of the mind
And laid them: thus he came at length
To find a stronger faith his own;
And power was with him in the night,
Which makes the darkness and the light,
And dwells not in the light alone,
But in the darkness and the cloud,
As over Sinai's peaks of old,
While Israel made their gods of gold,
Although the trumpet blew so loud.
That which saved Thomas was his deep, strong friendship for Christ.
"The characteristic of Thomas," says Ian Maclaren, "is not that he
doubted,--that were an easy passport to religion,--but that he doubted
and loved. His doubt was the measure of his love; his doubt was
swallowed up in love." If friendship for Christ be loyal and true, we
need not look upon questioning as disloyalty; it may be but love
finding the way up the rugged mountain-side to the sunlit summit of a
glorious faith. There is a scepticism whose face is toward wintriness
and death; but there is a doubt which is looking toward the sun and
toward all blessedness.
Thomas teaches us that one may look on the dark side and yet be a
Christian, an ardent lover of Jesus, ready to die for him. But we must
admit that this is not the best way to live. No one would say that
Thomas was the ideal among the apostles, that his character was the
most beautiful, his life the noblest and the best. Faith is better
than doubt, and confidence better than questioning. It is better to be
a sunny Christian, rejoicing, songful, happy, than a sad, gloomy,
despondent Christian. It makes one's own life sweeter and more
beautiful. Then it makes others happier. A gloomy Christian casts
dark shadows wherever he goes; a sunny Christian is a benediction to
every life he touches.