But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, 
was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, 
“We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark 
of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails 
and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”   John 20:24-25

This is the familiar story of doubting Thomas - characterized by Thomas’ testing touch.  He was a matter-of-fact kind of person, with his feet firmly planted on the ground, who saw himself as a reality tester.  But a most surprising thing happened, which is what the Easter message is all about.

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas 
was with them.  The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood 
among them, and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, 
“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, 
and place it in my side; do not be faithless but believing. 
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”     John 20:26-28

Astonishingly, when Thomas touched Jesus, it was really Thomas who was touched by his living Lord.  Else why the sudden response from Thomas, “My Lord and my God! “

One of the great English Congregational preachers of the 20th century, P.T. Forsyth, said, “Faith is our relation not to what we possess but to what possesses us.  Our faith is not in our experience, but in our Savior.”

Faith then, is our relation not to what we touch, but to what touches us.  And it takes eyes of faith for such seeing, for Jesus says in the closing verse of this passage with Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me?”  And then it is as though the text shifts directly to us - in a resurrection beatitude. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”  John 20:29

Instead of us touching Jesus to know for sure and thus believe, it is when we are touched by his spirit that we know the presence of Christ.  Perhaps we could change the little rhyme we all grew up with in Sunday school to “Jesus touches me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!”  And that’s when we are offered the leap of faith.

Now a few weeks after Easter, this text of testing Thomas presents us with a decision between doubt and believing.  As theologian, Charles Simpson, put it, “Believe and receive.  Doubt and do without.”  Since those first Easter days, Jesus has only been heard, seen, and known in spirit. And so the choice is ours.  In closing I share an anonymous poem entitled, “Faith and Doubt.”

Doubt sees the obstacles, faith sees the way; 
Doubt sees the blackest night, faith sees the day; 
Doubt dreads to take a step, faith soars on high; 
Doubt questions, “Who believes?  “Faith answers, “I! “

As we remember and are touched this Eastertide season, may we boldly say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” 

In that Spirit,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister