-
Matthews gospel tells us that the disciples believed, but some doubted!
-
Thomas is the representative doubter of the 4th Gospel
-
The Jews are vilified – fear of them is the reason for the room being locked
-
The physical body of Christ appears among them – this highlights a tension about the nature of the new creation in Chirst. ‘Do not touch me’ he says to MM; yet he can appear in a locked room.
-
To emphasize his presence and his physicality he shows his hands and side – it is evidence to add to the empty tomb; the witnessing of the 2 angels; the encounter with MM. He is setting his credentials before them – he is the same one whom they saw crucified
-
This is John’s ‘Pentecost’ – only Luke tells of the 40 days and 50 days events (Ascension and Pentecost). Jesus breaths on them, and says ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’. This refers back to the promise of John 14, 26, the promise of the Advocate (Parakletos -the Holy Spirit)
-
This too is John’s equivalent of Matthew 16, 18 – surely a reference in both cases to the whole experience of our reconciliation to God through Jesus – maybe even to the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the ministry of the primitive church.
-
So we are told that Thomas is absent – he simply says, ‘I want evidence, proof’
-
Why not – this is such an incredible happening. We say ‘I can’t believe unless I see’ but what about ‘I can’t see unless I believe!’
-
Again Jesus appears, this time Thomas is present. Again an emphasis on the wounds of Christ as evidence of who this. The jury has been out for Thomas, now he has to make up his mind, and the evidence is overwhelming.
-
‘My Lord and my God.’ Thomas’s words are the end result of a whole gospel presenting evidence for Jesus being God among us. It brings us full circle form the proclamation at the beginning of John –the Word was God…through the ministry of Jesus where he ‘shows’ or reveals himself in the signs…through the death and resurrection…through the evidence for the risen Christ. Now the final verdict on the lips of one who waivered, one who doubted. ‘My Lord and my God’.
-
This is surely the final statement of the gospel.
-
However – the Risen Christ comments as he has throughout the gospel, that it is easy to believe when you have seen, even better if you have not seen, but believe.
-
Clearly the evangelist is directing us to think of being able to see Jesus, touch Jesus, through the, the Eucharist, and the active fellowship of the Body of Christ, the church, in which are the imprints of the wounds of Jesus Christ (the Paschal Community).
-
This is all summed up in verse 30 – the case is closed; it is beyond reasonable doubt; the verdict is given. ‘Jesus is the Messiah…’ Some scholars believe that this is the final verse of the original 4th Gospel.
