Remember “doubting Thomas?” I think we should call him something else. Like, maybe, “Thomas the twin” (Jn. 11:16; 21:2). Or how about “realistic Thomas.” Everyone knows that “doubt” is a sin. I don’t generally admit to doubt. On the other hand, like many people, I consider “realism” to be a positive trait. Let’s think about this.
A realist is a person who recognizes what is real or possible in a particular situation; one who accepts and deals with things as they really are (Merriam-Webster online dictionary). M-W uses the word in a sentence: “Chekhov was essentially more of a realist than Dostoevsky, whose force often lay in a strong proclivity to melodrama ...” I like realism because I really don’t care to live my life as a “melodrama.” Realists are pragmatics and I like that. The problem is that realists can also be pessimists or worriers or defeatists. This happens when their “reality” is inaccurate or incomplete. That’s what happened to Thomas.
We first see Thomas in the story of Lazarus (John 11). When Christ tells the disciples they are going to go to Bethany and back into the dangers of those who are plotting to kill Him, Thomas says, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (11:16). That’s not how it turned out. He was wrong! In the Upper Room, after Jesus said “where I go you know, and the way you know,” Thomas responded with some frustration, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way” (14:4-5)? Obviously, if you don’t know where you are going there’s no way you can know how to get there. Unless … 14:6! Then we have our passage: “Unless I see … I will not believe.”
In all these situations, Thomas is a realist, responding out of all the facts he has. His attitude is typical of a lot of people. Further, the other disciples had all seen the risen Lord. Nevertheless, the Lord reproves Thomas. It’s not harsh. And it does not keep Thomas from being a man of faith. But as always, Jesus’ words are powerful. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
We need to hear this. You know why? Because our day-by-day walk with Christ is a walk of faith and not sight (2 Cor. 5:7). That short verse tells us that “realism” is not the defining factor of the Christian life. We can add 1 Peter 1:6-9, where Peter reminds us of the unspeakable joy of those who, though they have not seen Christ, yet trust in Him to get them through this life and into a good standing in the day that Christ is revealed from heaven. Sight is not critical. Faith is!
In the Bible, both in the Greek NT and the Hebrew OT, there are two words we translate “blessed” in English. One means to say something nice about someone. The other one means “happy.” Jesus used the one that means “happy.” Let me take you to Psalm 1-2 where “blessed” (happy) is used twice.
· Blessed/happy is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night (1:1-2). Reality for the Christian cannot be defined by the ungodly, sinners or scornful. It must be defined by the word of God. In Christian reality everything is created by God, Jesus is the only way of salvation, and the cross and resurrection are true and fundamental to our relationship with God. That is reality. Failure to reckon with this is why our world is so hopelessly lost in sin (Eph. 2:12.)
· Psalm 2 begins with raging nations and vain thoughts. Everywhere there is rebellion, people against God, people ridiculing the Bible. But God says He has things all under control, and that in His plan a person must “kiss the Son,” meaning they must submit to His authority. Then it says: Blessed/happy are all those who put their trust in Him (2:12). Real happiness will not be our experience if we do everything we deem essential for happiness. It requires submission, submission to the Son of God!
Thomas and the rest of the Twelve actually saw the risen Christ. That was God’s plan so that they could be the witnesses of His resurrection. Their testimony, recorded in Scripture, encourages our faith. And again, we don’t walk by sight but by faith. Remember the definition: a person who recognizes what is real or possible in a particular situation. Christians need to have a view of reality that includes anything and everything that God will do. In our troubled lives, realism is defined by God’s faithfulness!
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