Sunday, May 11, 2014

Why The Thomas Story Makes Me Sad

I used to love the Doubting Thomas story. 

To me, it was always a microcosm of us.  We're all followers of Christ who go through periods of varying degrees of understanding - who eventually become passionate believers through the Resurrection.

Then one day I saw something in that story that made me very sad.

First, Jesus shows the eleven "his hands and sides".  Then, later, when Thomas arrives, he says "Put your finger here and see my hands".

This, of course, is meant to convince them that He was the same One who was nailed to the cross just days ago.  

But can't we look at that same image, and imagine God saying "Look at what you did. I came down from Heaven to live among you, and you pierced me"?  I mean, wouldn't the storybook version of the resurrected God have Him look pristine and whole?  

Think about that.    

God came here to live with us - which is unfathomable in its own right - and we thanked Him by putting nails into His hands.  

Who does that???  

Answer:  we do.

And by the way, how sad is it that it is these holes that finally help the Apostles (and us) believe.  Not some glorious piece of evidence, mind you, but icons of the suffering we put Him through.  

Yes, Christ showed us his scars so that the twelve, and eventually all of us, all may believe.  But for me it is also a very sad reminder of what our sins did to Him.  

God Bless you.

4 comments:

Victor S E Moubarak said...

And whenever He looks at the scars in His hands, feet and side He forgives once again.

God bless.

Shirley said...

You know, I have read that story many times, and the one thing that strikes me is that it never says that Thomas actually put his finger in the wounds. I like to think that He was overwhelmed at just the sight of our Lords wounds and humbled by his disbelief.

Mary N. said...

We crucified God. Horrifying when you think about it, isn't it? Humanity crucified Divinity. And He let us.

Great post,Michael. You always make me think.

Michael said...

Victor: Good point. Which is what makes His love so unfathomable.

Colleen: Every time I think about how great His love is I shake my head in disbelief.

Shirley: I never thought about that. What a lovely image.

Mary: It is horrifying. I just sat there after I wrote it and kept shaking my head. And thank you for your kind words.

God Bless you.