An Encouraging Pardon

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

John 20:27

While we say, “There’s no such thing as a stupid question,” we don’t always act that way. Who hasn’t found himself wanting to ask a question but feeling too afraid? We think everyone else already knows the answer (they usually don’t) and that everyone else will make fun of us (they probably will).

Among Jesus’ disciples, there was one man who wasn’t afraid to ask: Thomas. In fact, history remembers him as “doubting Thomas” because of his refusal to believe that which he hadn’t personally proven to be true. He was as discouraged as the rest of the disciples about Jesus’ death, but eight days after the Resurrection, he still wouldn’t take their word for it. (He was absent on Resurrection evening when Jesus appeared to the group.)

When he finally met Jesus face-to-face, Thomas found the Lord forgiving, not belittling. He allowed Thomas to come to faith in his own way and at his own pace. Jesus does the same with us. If you have a question, ask Him—you’ll see.

Thankfully, Jesus makes fun of no one—even those of shaky faith.