Didn't Jesus Know?

The story of “doubting Thomas” is very familiar. Thomas was absent when the resurrected Jesus appeared to the other disciples, and he responded by doubting the others’ report. His words were “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Usually discussion of this story focuses on Thomas. Why did he doubt? Why was his faith so weak? Why didn’t he believe ten trustworthy people?

There is another very important character in the story, and that is Jesus. Jesus understood that not being present would make faith more difficult for Thomas (or anyone), as Thomas lacked the visual proof that the other disciples experienced. So why did Jesus make His first visit when Thomas was not there? Didn’t Jesus know that Thomas was away? Of course He knew. He knows everything.

Why then did He choose to appear at that time? It was a deliberate choice. Jesus knew where each disciple was at all times. He knew when they were all together. He could have come at any time. With all of these factors, it seems completely logical to our human minds that Jesus would have come when all of the disciples were present. Since Jesus made this choice, there must have been a reason for it.  Following are some ideas for what that reason may have been.

First, to emphasize the need for belief. Jesus wanted Thomas to believe, just as He wanted all of the disciples to believe. When He appeared a week later, He challenged Thomas with the need for belief, with or without visual support.

Second, to illustrate the human propensity to doubt. Doubting is such a common human response, and it springs easily from human hearts. Thomas was one of the chosen apostles and had the unified eyewitness report of the other ten apostles. If, having those advantages, Thomas doubted, then doubt is not such a strange thing.

Third, to illustrate His compassionate response to human weakness. Jesus was really pretty gentle with Thomas. Instead of berating him, Jesus responded by providing what was needed to build Thomas’s faith. It is easy to hear the love in Jesus’ voice as He reaches out to Thomas.

Fourth, to show His personal interaction with His children. Jesus could have given His message to the group once with the hope that they all got it. Because He knew, however, that one out of the eleven was still in doubt, He ministered personally to that one. As the others stood by, Jesus took the time to speak individually to Thomas and to show that He had personal knowledge of Thomas’s specific struggles.

Fifth, to show the possibility for victory and growth. Even with doubt as strong as Thomas’s was, his doubt was not hopeless. When presented with the truth, he turned to Jesus with a strong response of faith. He did not remain in his struggling state.

Sixth, to show there is a purpose in things that don’t seem right. This irregular timing of Jesus’ visit to His disciples was used in Thomas’s life to bring personal growth. Proper honor was given to Jesus, and the other disciples were able to observe this important interaction. Beyond that, his story was recorded to help and instruct Christians in all of the centuries since. There were reasons for Jesus to appear in Thomas’s absence.

There are also reasons for what God does in our lives. Everything God does (or doesn’t do) has a purpose. God uses even things that seem like lost opportunities or advantages we have missed out on. We never really lack (that is, to our detriment) anything that God intends for us to have or experience. Neither do we ever have or receive anything that God does not allow. He knows what is best for us, and He gives and withholds accordingly.

We do not always know what God knows in terms of purposes; in fact, in many situations we will never learn all of His purposes. Sometimes we question, "Didn't God know?" Yes, He knew. In spite of our knowledge or lack thereof, God knows what He is doing, and He does have purposes. Like in the story of Thomas, those purposes may be for us individually, for others looking on, for people who will hear about our story, or simply to bring proper honor to God. An evangelist recently shared a quotation from a book by an unknown author. This is a paraphrase, but the concept was this: If we could see things as God sees them, we would want Him to do things as He is doing them.

“The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.” Psalm 145:17 (NASB)