The Evangelists wanted, as Paul did before them, to confirm the Resurrection not only through mentioning it for the reader of the New Testament but also through showing concrete things that are the appearances of the Lord that happened eleven times. The first appearance occurred when the Lord entered to the disciples on the eve of Resurrection when they were together and afraid of the Jews since they were at risk of death, imprisonment, and suffering because they followed that who the Jews put up on the cross.
After greeting them with peace “he showed them his hands and side” so that they don’t think he’s an illusion, i.e. so that they become sure that the person who entered to them is the same one they knew and saw crucified. For the redemption to happen it was very important for the body that the Jews crucified to be the same one that resurrected from the dead.
Immediately after his greeting he told them: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”. It is obvious that he called them at the beginning of his gospel, but now he stabilized them in the mission because sending them is related to the power of Resurrection. After fifty days, he sent them the Holy Spirit so that they get filled with the power of Resurrection and give people this power.
In this first meeting, Thomas was not with them so they told him what they saw, but he wanted a proof so he said: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe”. How did Thomas live with his friends after that? Did they discuss the Resurrection? They did surely pray together until the Sunday after Resurrection came; this is the Sunday that we mention today and call Thomas Sunday or New Sunday which is the eighth day after Pascha.
In this day, Jesus came while the doors were locked. This means that walls couldn’t prevent Jesus from entering the hall where the disciples were. The book didn’t say that the Lord penetrated the walls. Jesus appeared through his power and became between them; the Gospel doesn’t explain how that happened. He greeted them and went directly to Thomas saying to him: “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe”.
We don’t really know if Thomas got over his doubt by putting his hand on Jesus’ side and the marks of the nails. The important thing is that he told him: “My Lord and my God”. The word “Lord” in the Greek text is definite, therefore it means: You are the Lord and you are my Lord. This is a confession from Thomas that Jesus is the only Lord. And in order not to let someone think that he is calling him a lord in the sense of a “master” like any other master, Thomas added the phrase “My God”. This is a confession that Jesus of Nazareth is the complete true God.
Thomas’ doubt was beneficial for us to recognize that Jesus rose from the dead and that through this resurrection his disciples recognized that he is the Lord and the God. Thomas’ testimony is one of the strong ones, if not the strongest, to say that Jesus rose alive and triumphant over death.
Thomas helped us to believe without seeing and to deserve the Lord’s delight in us as he has said: “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”. Make us worthy, Lord, to be among these.
Translated by Mark Najjar
Original Text: “توما” –Raiati no18- 01.05.2011
