In the various passage of Scripture, we can discover that Thomas was inclined to be a negative thinker, yet a person of intense loyalty and bravery, and was humble enough to admit ignorance. Jesus used the dullness of Thomas as an open door to teach truth more fully. There is probably no greater example of this than our text. Jesus already appeared to Mary and then later to the disciples in the Upper Room when Thomas was absent. Through Thomas, we can learn about three types of faith.
Faith before evidence is depicted in verse 25. He said, “will not…” This faith provides minimal obedience because of the interference from self.(Romans 7:18) An example of this is a will for good to occur but that intention does not equal doing good. In this case the person’s nature has not been changed at conversion. Instead, this evidence for faith is the kind that conditions obedience as described by self. It leads to a pessimistic nature about God and the church. Thomas had been absent for probably eight days grieving and living in a world of disappointment. When Jesus appeared to the other disciples, he missed the sight of the Lord. He was unable to accept the testimony of others as they rejoiced. Any potential for obedience was limited by self. Notice that everything we’ve discussed rotates around self. Thomas wanted the same evidence as the other disciples which in itself is not a terrible thing to desire equal opportunity to see the Lord. This experience of Thomas and the disciples tells us that the only way for us to change from faithless to faithful is a desire to be in the company of other worshipers as mentioned in verse 27.
Then there is faith by evidence as mentioned in verse 28. This is on a slightly higher level than what we’ve just discussed but still not on a truly spiritual plane. For someone to say that he believes because he has seen or experienced reduces spirituality to the practical, to the moral. Here is the point about the word “ good.” It is good to have faith. It is even good to have evidence. But there is something much better.(Verse 28) When anyone says that he will believe what he has seen or experienced, that person is telling God to meet a human standard. The big word “if” makes faith so conditional. It places people on the pedestal of requiring God to meet human standards. This is the kind of faith that a carnal Christian would enjoy because it results from a sensual knowledge such as seeing and feeling. It places a demand on God requiring him to answer to man. When Thomas said, “My Lord,” he was admitting that Jesus was the owner and ruler over everything. When Thomas said, “My God,” he was recognizing the divine status of Jesus as the true God.
Finally, there is the best kind of faith. It is faith without evidence, without preconditions, without human stipulations. (Verse 29) This is a new kind of spiritual goodness that only comes from holiness, from spiritual growth. (Romans 7:18) This is a kind of faith that God seeks from those who serve him. It is like a good favorable wind, a coin of genuine silver unpolluted with foreign metals. The Greek word used here could described a well-situated military camp. It is a reminder of the first chapter of Genesis that says, “God saw what he had made, and it was good.” This faith leads to noble deeds without reservation. It is a new prospect for good in Christ. As Paul pointed out, the old man is crucified. He has been wounded, tied down, and reduced in strength. Still, the believer must make his duty to submit to God for his refinement.
The special kind of faith is his new state of blessedness.(Matthew 5:1-12) Even if the utility or means of a deed is taken away, the reward is still present. It is praiseworthy for its own sake coming from the heart of the devout believer. How wonderful it is that this true genuine faith can be a means to attract others by its radiance, vitality, and conviction. This, then, is our goal to believe without evidence. This reminds us of the statement in Hebrews 11 where it says faithful people served God without ever seeing the end result of their devotion.
Christian Writer 