To doubt is human. The most famous doubter in history was Christ’s own apostle, Thomas. We all know the story about Thomas’s doubting the reports of the Resurrection. But the colloquy between Jesus and Thomas after the Last Supper and before the Crucifixion, as recounted in John, Chapter 14, is more instructive for these times.
Jesus begins, “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.”
Jesus explains that He is going ahead of the apostles to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. He assures the apostles, “I will come again, and will take you to myself; that where I am, you also may be.”
Thomas protests that they do not know the way to where Jesus is going. Jesus answers, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me.”
Then Jesus doubles down, making His divine identity clear. “If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also; and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him.”
Lest there still be doubt about His divinity and incarnation, Jesus says, “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world, and I go to the Father.”
We are here confronted with the direct, personal testimony of Christ Himself regarding His identity and the eternal joy that will belong to those who believe in Him. It was meant to reassure the apostles in the near term and the faithful down through the ages against the turmoil and persecution that awaited those who believe. “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world.”
Do we take Him at His word or not?