So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”
The disciples tell Thomas of the appearance of Christ to them. Their telling is one of joy at seeing Jesus and not an accusation at Thomas for not being there. They just want to let Thomas in on the joy they are sharing. The response of Thomas indicates that the other disciples have told him that they had also seen the nail scars and the hole in Christ’s side when He appeared to them. They undoubtedly told Thomas the whole story, probably with a great deal of excitement.
Thomas gets blamed for being the most skeptical of all the disciples, but he is only demanding the same proof that Jesus has already given all of them (20:20). Thomas may have been the skeptical kind, but there is possiblly another reason for his demands of proof. When faced with the challenge of going back for Lazarus’ sake to Judea where the Jews were waiting to kill Jesus, the other disciples were reluctant to follow Christ, but not Thomas. He was the one, though fearing death, to encourage the other disciples to go with Jesus regardless of the danger they would face (John 11:7-16). Thomas was certainly a man of courage, much like Peter, who took on a small army with just one sword (John 18:3-10). But things had not turned out as Thomas had thought. His Master was dead, killed in the most horrible and demeaning of fashions, and yet all of the disciples except the traitor, were still alive. Thomas had to be in shock over the whole series of events and believing that the whole tragedy was suddenly annulled would have been too much to take.
John 20:20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
John 11:7-16 Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.” After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
John 18:3-10 So Judas came to the grove, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” “I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
Perhaps the greater sin of Thomas was not unbelief, for the other disciples were just as unbelieving until Jesus miraculously stood in their midst and showed them His hands and side. What Thomas did that they didn’t was to demand a sign from Christ before he would put his faith in Him. This put Thomas on a level with Christ’s enemies (Matt 16:1, 27:42). This was doubly bad since Thomas voiced his demands before his brothers, thus sowing doubt in their minds, too (Deut 20:8). They were weak enough without his help. What do you sow in the hearts of your fellow believers: faith or doubt?
Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
Matthew 27:42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
Deuteronomy 20:8 Then the officers shall add, “Is any man afraid or faint-hearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too.”