The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
Caravaggio
1601–1602
Oil on canvas
107 cm × 146 cm (42 in × 57 in)
Sanssouci, Potsdam
Saint Thomas, Apostle
Unless I see … I will not believe. (John 20:25)
Try to imagine yourself in Thomas’ sandals. How do you feel when Jesus appears? No doubt, you are astounded to see him alive. Certainly, you are awestruck to see him as the risen, glorious Lord. Perhaps you become lost in worship as you look into his eyes and touch his wounds. You are filled with gratitude as you realize that he has accomplished nothing less than the salvation of the world.
But if you were Thomas, you might feel like laughing at yourself as well! You’ve spent three years with Jesus, watching him heal the blind and the lame, drive out demons, and raise the dead. You heard how the tomb was found empty and the stone rolled away and how Mary Magdalene and the others saw Jesus alive. But still you wanted proof. And now here he is, standing right in front of you. It’s almost as if he’s saying, “Thomas, it really is me! Trust me; I will never abandon you.”
It may be hard to imagine Thomas as finally being relieved of his doubts and even chuckling over them. Besides, it can be very easy for us to identify with the first part of his story—especially when we ourselves feel stressed or anxious. We may be going through a serious illness, financial problems, or some other crisis, or maybe something horrible is happening to someone we are close to. We may wonder if God is really going to come through and help. We may even blame ourselves for not having enough faith.
Whenever this happens, think of Thomas. Let Jesus tell you the same thing he told this wavering apostle: “Look at me and trust! Believe, even when you cannot see.” Who knows? He may even tell you to laugh in the face of your problem. Jesus promises that if you take just one small step in handing over everything to God “with thanksgiving,” then his peace, which “surpasses all understanding,” will come to you (Philippians 4:6, 7). So no matter what you are dealing with, look at the cross, and see the finished work of Jesus. Then, with a heart full of praise, cry out, “My Lord and my God!”
“Thank you, Jesus, for being with me at every moment, in good times and bad. I praise you, Lord, for being my Savior!”
Ephesians 2:19-22; Psalm 117:1-2