"Bible Week" - the evening of that day

 “Bible Week” at The Ambiguities 

Saturday's child works hard for its living. Why shouldn’t Thomas doubt? (John 20:19ff.)

I read and re-read and re-read this story of “doubting Thomas,” because I can’t get over my sense that whoever gave him the name and however many have carried it on have done the man wrong. Isn’t Thomas the only one of the disciples, that when Jesus says they are going back into Judea (chapter 11) – isn’t he the only one that says, “Yes. Let’s go!”? The others quail before the prospect; they peep at Jesus, “You don’t want to go there. Weren’t they just going to stone you? And what if a stone should hit one of us?”

The ten. Night vision photograph.

     Now these others are gathered behind closed doors “for fear of the Jews.” Only Thomas, we read: “Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them . . . ,” meaning he is out and about! He is the only disciple not locked in, peeing his pants. I have to wonder why Jesus appears to the others and not to him. 
     Thomas must wonder the same thing; for when his ten spineless colleagues play gotcha, singing: “We have seen the Lord! We have seen the Lord,” meaning you haven’t - nanny-nanny-boo-boo, he lashes out at them that he’s going to more than see their Lord before he believes.And why should he believe what they say? Tell me if you know.

04.23.16