Three Days, One Messiah

Chapter 8

Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
John 21:23 (NKJV)

"I still don't believe it," Thomas muttered. He had again joined the others in the upper room and had been instantly overwhelmed with stories that Jesus had risen from the dead.

"Well it's our word against yours, why would we lie?" asked Thaddeus impatiently.

"I don't think you're lying, I think you're tired and delusional, just like the women."

"Delusional?" Peter stood up and stared at Thomas as if about to challenge him. "He appeared to me! Me, who denied not just being His follower but refused to believe in His resurrection! I had no belief that He had risen whatsoever. And now I know the truth, and have shared it with you all. And yet you insist on standing here and saying to my face that I'm delusional. Have you gone mad?"

Thomas shook his head, undaunted. "You're the ones who have gone mad. He's dead. We buried Him ourselves."

"Peter and John went to the tomb and saw that it was empty," began James Alphaeus.

"So what?" Thomas interrupted. "His body was stolen, it's the only logical explanation."

"The true and logical explanation is that He has risen," said John, who till this moment had remained silent. "Why are you so stubborn, Thomas? Why are you refusing to believe the truth?"

"I can't believe you of all people believe this nonsense!" cried Thomas, whirling around to face him. "You watched Him die!"

John clenched his teeth together, and his face showed that it cost him an effort not to lose his temper. He got up and stood in front of Thomas, attempting to hide a hint of impatience in his tone. "You're right. I was there, underneath His cross. I did watch Him die. I saw them plunge a Roman spear into His side. I helped Joseph and Nicodemus take Him down from the cross and I helped them put His body in the tomb. I was there, and because I was, I probably have more reason than any of the rest of you to doubt. And yet, how can I when I know I've seen Him? He was here, Thomas, as sure as I stand before you now. And I pity you for not being able to listen to reason." John stopped suddenly, afraid that he would go too far. He was too afraid of losing his temper. But his heart said so much more than he would allow himself to say out loud.

He was here. He ate in front of us. We touched Him...I touched Him. His Spirit came upon us while He was with us. He's alive…it’s an undisputed fact. Jesus is alive. Why won’t Thomas listen to reason? We’re all saying the same thing.

Peter’s opinions paralleled John’s, but he also knew it was better not to say too much. “What will it take to convince you?” he asked instead.

“Unless I touch the nail marks in His hands and the wound in His side, I won’t believe,” Thomas replied staunchly.

He still valiantly denied the truth the next day, all until Jesus appeared to the disciples again, this time to all of them, and told Thomas to touch His scars. It was in that moment that Thomas could no longer doubt. When he fell to his knees saying, ‘My Lord and my God!’, Jesus asked him something that those who heard never could forget.

“Do you believe because you’ve seen Me? How happy are those who believed without seeing Me?” He had barely finished speaking when His eyes met John’s. Passionate, loyal John, who had known from the moment he stepped in the tomb that his beloved Lord was alive. John smiled, but quickly turned away, still not used to showing his emotions and stubbornly resisting against revealing the tears in his eyes. He instead turned to look at Peter, and they exchanged a smile.