"Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails...I will not believe".
A. Insights into Thomas' character:
John 11:1-16
"He said to His disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again" (11:7).
"The disciples said to Him...the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again"? (11:8)
"Then Thomas said....'Let us also go, that we may die with Him'" (11:16).
John 14:1-6
"Thomas said unto Him, 'Lord we do not know where You re going, and how can we know the way'"? (14:5)
John 20:24 "But Thomas...was not with them when Jesus came".
Apparently, Thomas' doubt was caused by His pessimistic outlook:
1. When the Lord told them that He was returning to Judea, even though the Jews there were seeking to kill Him, Thomas gave up hope.
2. When Christ announced that He was going to prepare a place for them, Thomas despaired saying, "We don’t know where this place is and we will never be able to find it".
3. Apparently, after the crucifixion, Thomas despaired and thought it was useless to meet with the other disciples.
B. Christ’s reaction to Thomas' doubt:
"He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here...reach your hand here....
Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas said to Him, 'My Lord and my God'"! (20:27-28)
C. Contrast Judas' doubt:
"he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put into it". (John 12:3-6)
"Then...Judas went to the priest and said, 'What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you"? (Matthew 26:14-16).
"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:12).