There are lots of Thomas' in my family. Best of all is my Dad!
Still the most famous Christian Thomas must be the Apostle Thomas, also known as, Doubting Thomas. You remember in the upper room, he missed Jesus' visit. Thomas said he wouldn't believe unless he touched the wounds himself.
This past Sunday however, in the Gospel reading, in the brackets to be omitted if the celebrant chooses, Thomas shows quite a different side of himself. Particularly COURAGE!
Jesus delays a visit to his close friend, Lazarus. Understandably so when you read verses 8-9 (John Ch. 11): The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?" What Thomas says is the subplot to the greater miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Even marked by brackets to be left out!!
When Jesus declares that no matter what he is going back to Judea so that they may believe, Thomas shows COURAGE: "Let us also go to die with him."
So there is more than meets the eye to this doubting disciple. He was ready to go with Jesus to die, even before the he knew about The Cross.
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