It occurs to me that as much can be communicated with the tone of voice as with the words themselves. And what brings that to mind this morning is reading again Thomas’ words in John 20.

He was called Thomas, the Twin, or Didymus. He was one of the twelve. Maybe he was Matthew’s twin as his name and Matthew’s seem always to be linked together when Jesus’ twelve disciples are listed. If the association with Matthew wasn’t that of being his twin, maybe Thomas was a tax collector as well. I don’t think we know. But his “15 minutes of fame” come after the resurrection of Christ.

He wasn’t there the first time Christ visited His disciples and showed Himself alive to them. So you need to give him a bit slack when he shows up afterward and hears his compatriots tell him, “We have seen the Lord!” (John 20:24-25a) . . . or do you? That’s where the tone of voice thing comes in. Here’s Thomas’ response . . .

“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25b)

So . . . how did he say that? The words, in and of themselves, are pretty assertive, “I will not believe.” But how where they said? Was it with a tone of, “I’m done with this thing . . . you guys are on something . . . unless I touch Him, I WILL NOT BELIEVE!” Or, maybe, it was more like, “Don’t mess with me . . . I’ve been through the ringer, just like you . . . I’m beat up . . . broken . . . disillusioned . . . withered . . . I need some tangible proof or I will not believe.” Or maybe it was the voice of desperation, “What? He was here? Oh, I know you guys . . . I know you wouldn’t be kidding about something like this at a time like this . . . but it’s too incredible . . . too big a leap of faith . . . unless I see Him and touch, I will not believe.”

You know, regardless of how Thomas said these words . . . regardless of the exact condition of his unbelieving heart . . . it’s the response of Jesus when, eight days later, He again visits His disciples, which captures me this morning . . .

“Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ ” (John 20:27)

Talk about your “Amazing Grace!” Jesus confronted Thomas’ unbelief . . . He responded to His “I will not” assertiveness . . . by saying, “Thomas, stop it . . . stop your unbelieving . . . I want you so much that I’m here to let you poke and prod me as you want . . . I love you so much, not only did I die for you, but I’ve come pursuing you and presenting Myself to you in the way that is needed for you to believe. Stop doubting and believe.” However Thomas said it, Jesus determined to draw “doubting Thomas” to Himself . . . this one that the Father had given Him, Jesus would in no way lose (John 6:39) . . . though this sheep might be wandering a bit in doubt, the Good Shepherd was determined to bring him home, . . . even if that meant He had to carry Thomas on His shoulders . . . even if that meant having Thomas put his fingers into the nail prints in His hand. That’s the grace of Jesus . . . that’s the love of God. And really, I’m that Thomas.

The Lord didn’t appear to me . . . He didn’t tell me to poke Him in the side where the spear had been thrust . . . but I have been shown the same grace . . . and continue to be patiently graced by the One who wants me with Him. I once was just as unbelieving . . . just as willful . . . and continue to have doubts about stuff from time to time . . . and continue to see the ugly head of “I will” rear itself. But in His infinite patience . . . His matchless grace . . . He determines to call me to faith . . . revealing something of Himself which invariably puts my heart on its knees declaring, “My Lord and My God!”

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” Jesus said (John 20:29). I am among that company of blessed persons. Not because of anything I have done . . . but because, just as with Thomas, His grace drew me to Himself and to believing in His precious name . . . His grace continuing to lovingly dispel doubt . . . for His glory . . . amen!