Do you have a nickname? If not, you may have a nickname you call a friend or family member. In my introduction about this blog I explain that to everyone except the government and my mother when I was in trouble, I am Jim. Mine is a common nickname. Some of my friends answer to it too, so when we call each other we identify ourselves as “the other Jim”. Some within the tight circle of Jesus’ twelve disciples also had nicknames. The sons of Zebedee, James and John, were nicknamed the Sons of Thunder. Jesus gave Andrew’s brother, Simon, the nickname of Peter (Greek for rock) making him the original Rocky. The disciple I’m writing about today was nicknamed the Twin.
Interestingly, that nickname for Thomas is mentioned several times in the Gospel of John, but it is not mentioned by Matthew, Mark or Luke when they list Thomas as one of the twelve. It may have been a nickname only that Son of Thunder gave him. At any rate, I suspect John was close friends with Thomas because he specifically quotes him in his Gospel account. The first time is when the disciples were warning Jesus about the danger of going to raise Lazarus, where the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill him. Thomas boldly stated, “Let’s go too – and die with Jesus.” (John 11:16) Later, when Jesus was preparing the twelve for his leaving them, Thomas questioned, “No, we don’t know, Lord. We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5)
Here is the most familiar passage of scripture about Thomas. “One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin) was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he replied, ‘I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.’ Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!’ ‘My Lord and my God!’ Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, ‘You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.’” (John 20:24-29)
Those of us reading John’s Gospel have given Thomas a new nickname. The Twin has become Doubting Thomas. He is forever identified by his skepticism. It has been said that if Thomas lived in the United States today, he would most certainly be from Missouri; the “show me” state. I have mentioned before that Thomas’ doubts prompted Jesus to bless you and me, because we believe in His resurrection without yet seeing Him. Through His Holy Spirit within us God will instantly turn our doubt into belief; all we have to do is pay close attention.