Oh, Thomas! How I love him. Do you think he really was doubting or simply asking clarifying questions? Wanting a few more visuals to make a decision. He certainly didn’t take the disciple’s word for truth. He wanted to see for himself.
“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were in, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it” John 20:25. A statement amid trying to wrap his mind around the disciples’ encounter with Jesus. Once some of his conditions of belief were met, he was all in. For years I lived under “if/then” statements to move forward in a decision. Think about that, for a moment. Do you have conditions when it comes to belief?
But what had Jesus told the disciples? In John 16 the disciples were saying they didn’t understand where he was going and what was happening, and Jesus says, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” When we don’t see a situation clearly or don’t have a definitive understanding we tend to lose faith.
Hebrews 11:1, states “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We know that with the faith of a mustard seed, we can move mountains! My friend, April Motl shares in Christianity.com that the tiny mustard seed holds the potential to grow into a 30-foot bush! Assurance, hope, and conviction give the unseen great potential.
The Centurion and the Canaanite woman both amazed Jesus with their unquestioning faith. The Centurion simply knew that when Jesus spoke to his paralyzed servant, he would be healed. Nothing more was needed for the Centurion to believe. The Canaanite woman requested Jesus heal her daughter. Jesus responds with “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs”, she profoundly replies “But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.” Wow. This is sheer bold faith.
Thomas, the Centurion, and the Canaanite woman, all had questions concerning Jesus and his power. Two of them were questions because of their faith and one had questions due to lack of faith. Are your questions a roadblock to your faith? Grab hold of that mustard seed today!
Tammy De Armas
EFCC Member