When we study what happened before and after the incident in the Gospel of John today, we will have a better understanding of Thomas.

The time and place of the Thomas story is important.
I worked for many years in a vocational training school, preparing young people for employment.

The facilities in the school were clean and nice.

The instructors in the school were very dedicated and knowledgeable.

The students for the most part were active and motivated.

But when it came time for the annual school evaluations, when the budget considerations were on the line, the examiners wanted to know just one thing: "How many people went to work last year?"

It was all about job placement.

One of the national real estate networks has an ad that asks:

"What is the most important thing to know when buying a house?"

Their answer is: "Location, Location, Location."

The lesson in the Thomas reading is all about the location.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus appeared to the disciples three times after the resurrection.

The first time Jesus met the disciples without Thomas.

The second time Jesus met the disciples with Thomas.

And the third time Thomas is with the disciples when Jesus confronted Peter.

I believe that this is meant to be all one story, because the spiritual lesson is related in all three encounters.

The lesson is faith and reconciliation.

Thomas had a crisis in faith, but Thomas was not alone.

After the crucifixion, all of the followers of Jesus had a crisis of faith.

It is not fair to single out Thomas alone.

We read in our text that on the same day that the empty tomb was discovered, Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room.

They did not believe He was alive. They were all scared to death.

Luke writes that they thought they were seeing a ghost.

Then Jesus showed them the nail prints in His hands and side.

Then they believed. But Thomas was not with them.

So when they told Thomas what had happened, he said,

"I will not believe until I put my finger in the nail holes of His hands and side".

Thomas was only requesting what the other guys had already experienced.

It is important to know that Thomas acted just like everyone else.

One week later, Jesus appeared again. This time Thomas was present.

Jesus repeated the acts of the previous week almost word for word.

And Thomas answered: "My Lord and my God."

When Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have come to believe", I think that was a message for us.

I think that Jesus was reminding, us that it is all right to ask for proof.

The disciples themselves asked for confirmation of the crucifixion and resurrection.

If Jesus will confirm it for them, then He will confirm it for us.

We should not be ashamed to say: I believe Lord; help me in my unbelief.

The third appearance of Jesus happened directly after the incident in the upper room.

In chapter 21, Thomas was with Peter and six other disciples on the seashore when Jesus appeared.

Some people have missed the connection between this and the other scripture, but the story of Thomas and Peter illustrate a common theme.

The theme here is confirmation and reconciliation.

In chapter 20, Thomas requested a confirmation from Jesus.

"I wish to touch the hole in your side."

Thomas received the confirmation that the other members of the community had already experienced.

In chapter 21, Jesus requests a confirmation from Peter.

"Peter, do you love me?" Jesus asks for proof.

And Peter received the same reconciliation that the other members of the community had already experienced.

Peter; the disciple who not only ran away, but who denied our Lord three times. Peter; who had taken himself out of the community; who was back at work on his fishing boat.

"Peter, do you love me?" "Lord, you know I love you."

"Then feed my sheep."

When Peter accepted that invitation from Jesus, then Peter was restored to his place in the fellowship.

Jesus came to Earth to restore mankind's relationship with God.

Jesus gave us an example here, of restoration; He restored His own broken community.

Thomas appeared to have put himself outside of the community by his doubt, and he was restored.

Peter took himself out of the community because of his shame, and he was restored.

The story of Thomas and of Peter, gives us a lesson about the stumbling blocks that we sometimes put in the way of our own faith walk.

When a faith crisis comes, sometimes we hesitate to ask for help; we are ashamed to admit that we do not have all of the answers.

We sometimes are afraid to ask for proof.

Jesus confirms to us today that we do not have to be ashamed to ask Him to make Himself known to us in our daily lives; to send people into our path, to show us the way.

We serve a God who turns stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

Contrary to a tale about a lack of faith, I think that our scripture today is a story about an affirmation of faith.

The example of Thomas is not a negative example for our lives as Christians.

The example of Thomas tells us to believe in God, even when we can not see Him.

To trust in God, that He will reveal Himself to us in our times of doubt.

And To accept the unearned, unconditional restoration of God.

Thomas is an example to us that we are redeemed; that, Jesus wants us to know that the nails in His hands were accepted for us.

In the history of the apostles, Thomas showed himself not to be a doubter, but a faithful servant.

By his stepping out in faith, it is doubtful that we can find a better example than Thomas.

May we show forth in our lives a faith the size of Thomas.

AMEN