Advocate November 23

St. John 11:31

Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples. Let us also go, that we may die with Him.

I've always admired Thomas. Over the years, I have often heard criticism against him, but he doesn't deserve it. I feel hurt when people talk about the disciples in a demeaning way, as if somehow we would have said or done the correct thing.

The devil started to label Thomas as 'Doubting Thomas.' You see, this is a tactic the enemy uses to belittle the true nature of Thomas. In this instance, Thomas was a pessimist, anticipating an evil outcome if they went to Judah with Jesus.

Things were getting hot as far as the desire of the Pharisees to kill Jesus, and the disciples knew they were likely to suffer the same fate.

To me, it's almost like they are tired of the criticism, the painful words that the respected people of the community are saying about them. Notice none of the other disciples interjected to go along with Jesus; instead, they tried to talk Him out of it. Maybe Jesus was looking for that intercessor to stand in the gap? Jesus's friend Lazarus was dead and needed help, and Jesus was going.

Then Thomas negatively said, "Let us also go that we may die with Him." An amazing thing happened; none of the other disciples argued? They all just went; they went because they had respect for Thomas.

Has anyone ever asked you to pray for them, and you thought, "I don't think God can do that? That's not the right thing to ask for." I know I have; there have been times when I thought, "There is no way God can answer this prayer." Not only did He answer, but He answered big!

Sometimes He doesn't need your Faith; He needs your Words. Jesus went on to raise Lazarus from the dead, and I'm sure that many people have accepted Jesus as their Savior to this day because of this notable event.

Thomas went on to martyrdom in Chennai, India, and that's more than three thousand miles from Jerusalem. One of my pastors met a Christian there that was a direct descendant of St. Thomas's ministry. Her Christian ancestors had accepted Jesus and could trace her faith back to Thomas! Thomas traveled farther than the rest and has a lasting reward.

John 20:25

But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Interestingly, all the other disciples had said the exact same words, but no one noticed that. When Thomas was martyred, they thrust a spear through his side.

John 20:27

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Thomas was a leader.

He is: Parakletos

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