Fans of “Seinfeld” still remember some of the great nicknames that were used on the show: Hipster Doofus, Can’t-Stand-Ya, Vegetable Lasagna, Schmoopy, Dr. Pimple Popper MD, the Soup Nazi, Bubble Boy and so many more.

Nicknames are common in real life, too. One that almost everyone knows, even if they don’t know the origin behind it, is “Doubting Thomas.” It describes someone who doesn’t easily believe what they see or hear, even when everyone else does. But there’s an interesting backstory to this nickname.

Lord, liar or lunatic?

Dive into a thought-provoking exploration of one of history’s most profound questions: Is Jesus Christ really God? Read More » 

Thomas was one of the twelve followers of Jesus: Peter, John, Matthew, James and Thomas, among others. The Bible records events from the three years Jesus spent with these men, leading up to his death on the cross. But here’s where it gets interesting.

Within days of his death, people began claiming they had seen Jesus alive again. One report described some of his disciples gathered in a room when Jesus suddenly appeared. Naturally, they were amazed and excited—even overwhelmed. 

But here’s the problem: Thomas wasn’t with the group that night. When the others told him about it, he was skeptical. He insisted that unless he could see the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and feet, he couldn’t—and wouldn’t—believe that Jesus was alive again. Doubting Thomas, indeed.

A few days later, he got exactly what he asked for. Jesus appeared in person, and this time, Thomas was there. Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds and challenged him to stop doubting and believe. This time, Thomas did.

But there’s a more significant question beyond the nickname: Did Jesus Christ really come back from the dead, or is this just a story meant to inspire?  

It’s not unreasonable to be a Doubting Thomas when you hear a story like this. It’s one thing to tell an unbelievable tale; it’s another to prove it. So, does the evidence hold up to scrutiny?

The gospel accounts state that Jesus was arrested and went through several trials by both Jewish and Roman officials. He was convicted and sentenced to death. The Roman method of capital punishment was crucifixion—tying or nailing the criminal to a wooden cross to suffer a slow and humiliating death. 

After Jesus died, his body was wrapped in grave clothes and placed in a tomb carved into the side of a hill. A large stone covered the entrance, and a squad of Roman soldiers was assigned to guard the site against mischief.

But three days later, eyewitness reports began circulating that Jesus Christ was alive, that the grave was empty and that hundreds of people had seen him.

Really? Did this truly happen, or was it all made up? No wonder Thomas had his doubts—this kind of thing just doesn’t happen. But the entire foundation of Christianity hinges on this event.

If Jesus Christ did come back from the dead, then Christianity is unique among all religions. Every other religion’s leader is dead, with a known gravesite. But Christians claim their leader is alive today, which they say proves that he alone is God.

That’s quite a claim. So, is it true or is it false? Next month, we’ll examine how some have tried to explain away this supernatural event.

Doubting Thomas - Part 2: It’s normal to doubt, but you’re blessed if you believe

Explore the compelling case for Jesus' resurrection. From the challenges of crucifixion survival to the implications for faith, discover why believers assert he is alive today. Read More »