Stroll through Scripture for April 12, 2026

Based on John 20:19-31

Thomas gets a bad rap.  “Doubting” is the label that is attached to his name because he questions his fellow disciples about what they have experienced.  And I get it.  He is skeptical.  He wasn’t there when Jesus appeared to the disciples.  

I often wonder how I would have reacted were I in Thomas’ position.   Would I also be skeptical?  Probably.  I think Thomas is very human.  

And even though Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus showed up, notice that the disciples who were present never really make any statement of faith.  They rejoice that Jesus is present.  But we don’t hear what they say.  We only hear from Jesus.  

It is Thomas who is the first of the 12 to make a declaration about Jesus – “My Lord and My God.”  Ancient traditions tell us that the Apostle Thomas would travel to India around 52 BCE to spread the Gospel.  He would be the one who takes the Gospel the farthest.  He would then die in India a martyr for the faith as well.  So much for doubting.  

I think one of the central points of this passage is not to criticize doubt and make it a bad thing.  Rather, it is to show that doubt is a part of faith.  Doubt doesn’t get us into trouble theologically.  Doubt causes us to raise questions.  It invites conversation.  It demands engagement.  Certainty, on the other hand, is very dangerous.  

Some years ago, the theologian Peter Enns wrote a book titled, “The Sin of Certainty.”  Certainty shuts down conversation.  It demands compliance.  It eliminates questions and closes us from new information that has the potential to change us.  When we see horrible events happen, usually certainty is somewhere in the mix of how those events moved forward.  

The opposite of faith isn’t doubt, it is certainty.  Faith isn’t about knowing the right information about God.  Certainty can offer you that.  You don’t need faith if you are certain.  Faith is about relationship with God, which is messy and raises questions.  Doubt is a part of relationships because we can never know fully the other person.  Certainty removes the humanity from the equation.  

So, on Sunday when we hear about “Doubting” Thomas, let’s listen for Thomas’ humanity and faith.