The Difficulty of Doubt

Eight 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.” Then 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.” 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 believed.” (John 20:26-29 ESV).

Charles Spurgeon is one of my favorite preachers. I have included a meme with one of his quotes today as we begin to look deeper into the hope of the resurrection. He wrote: “Doubt discovers difficulties which it never solves; Believe is the word which speaks life.” As Jesus prepared his followers to live faithfully after his return to heaven, Jesus addressed the challenge of doubt and unbelief. His appearances were intended to allay some of their fears and doubts. One of the disciples needed a bit more than the others. This was not because there was something wrong, or rebellious in him. Thomas was simply a realist. He knew that resurrections were not common events, and he feared that his fellow followers of Christ might have gotten it wrong. He wanted evidence. He demanded proof. It’s easy to criticize Thomas for his doubts, but the truth is that many of us live with similar hesitations. After all, Jesus is no longer on earth for us to see and touch. We cannot have the same experience as the first disciples who walked with him after his resurrection. So we need Jesus to prepare us for the challenges of skepticism and doubt in our own lives. He does that in our reading today. He says to everyone who struggles with the difficulty of doubt, “Stop doubting and believe.” We may not have the opportunity to feel the wounds of the cross with our own hands. But we have the testimony of lives changed by the Lord’s power. We can seek out the fellowship of other believers in the church and be encouraged by their words. And we can watch for the glory of Christ to appear around us, joining in with Thomas’s beautiful confession: “My Lord and my God!” Even today, with so many restrictions placed on the gathering together in one place, we have alternatives. I am an “old dog,” but I have learned many “new tricks.” With the development of our technology we still have many ways to gather together. I pray that you will be able to see Jesus resurrected more than ever before to meet the difficulty of doubt with the reality of faith.