Doubt or Truth Seeker?
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
For too long, we've labeled the Apostle Thomas as "Doubting Thomas." But is this fair? Let’s reconsider his story, especially in light of the Old Testament altar described in Exodus 27.
The Altar of Burnt Offering
In Exodus 27, God commands Moses to build an altar with horns on each corner. These horns secured the sacrificial animal and symbolized power, salvation, and mercy. The blood applied to the horns signified atonement for sins.
The Cross as the New Altar
Fast forward to the New Testament: the cross becomes the ultimate altar, and Jesus the ultimate sacrifice. The nails in His hands and feet, like the horns, secured the sacrifice, marking Jesus as the Lamb of God.
Thomas' Request: Seeking the Markings
In John 20:24-29, Thomas says, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Thomas wasn’t just doubting; he was looking for the true markings of God's sacrifice.
When Jesus showed His wounds, He provided the proof Thomas sought: that He was indeed the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the purpose of the Old Testament sacrifices. Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
A New Perspective on Faith
Let’s see Thomas not as a doubter, but as someone who understood the need for authenticating God’s true sacrifice. Through Thomas's boldness, we can all believe and recognize Jesus as the one and only Sacrificial Lamb, whose wounds are the eternal marks of our redemption. We can see Thomas as a seeker of truth, whose boldness leads us all to a deeper faith in Jesus as the ultimate Sacrificial Lamb.
In Christ’s love,
Pst. JK. Woodall, Ph.D.
Senior Pastor, Revival Center Hesperia
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