Thomas’ Question

It was quiet at the supper table. Actually, only One was speaking—rightly so, of course, because He had the right to speak first, to dominate the conversation, and to have the last word.

He was saying His farewell. He wanted to make use of every minute He still had with His disciples. The hellish anguish and arresting were very close, followed by the interrogation and the hall of judgment, and then the death of a criminal and the grave. In a little while the faithful Shepherd would be beaten and slain and these sheep, including Thomas, would be scattered. He Himself, the Shepherd, knew all this very well, and the eleven sensed that something was going to change, but how and why?

So, Thomas interrupted the silence during these parting words with a confession and a question, “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way…?” It was an honest confession of ignorance and a childlike request for light and guidance because he could not possibly see where the way would go in the coming night. He confessed it in the plural; thus, he knew himself to be the interpreter of the others around him. Herein was marked the inner life of all eleven of them. They did not get farther with themselves even though they had been with their Master for three years. They had already heard so many words from the highest Prophet and seen so many proofs of His royal majesty.

Proven work of grace

As they thought back on the way, the work of God’s grace had been evident in their lives. Would Thomas ever be able to forget what happened years ago—how he became a true follower of this Jesus? Did he not belong to the eleven who, through Peter, sincerely confessed, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68b&69).

In his great distress, a strong bond had been established with this Teacher of righteousness. In the fourth gospel, John wrote of this Thomas several times; heavy-hearted and faithful as he was, difficult to persuade, yet he proved convinced and decided. Now, on the eve of the dying day of Zion’s Surety, he asked about the way. He did not know… because here the way came to a dead end. There was no insight into Christ’s ransom and therefore no prospect and hope for the future. So, it turned out to be true after all; they were on the way for years and now unable to get any farther than “Show me Thy paths, O LORD…” Thomas apparently never outgrew this children’s verse! Have you?

In answer to this question, Thomas was taught about “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6b), as three rich names of the Mediator. Learning to know more of Him, that was the answer when everything ran stuck in this night. With great patience and compassion Christ watched their souls, telling them, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). Therefore, they said to one another, “we cannot tell what He saith…” (John 16:18b). However, the faithfulness of the Captain of salvation was evident in His continuous teaching: “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me?” (John 14:9b).

The Way of the Surety

That is not so easy to hear, “Hast thou not known Me…?” For the knowledge of “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” is what it is all about. The way of the Surety (to the Father’s house) runs through the hall of judgment, through death, and the grave. The truth of God’s justice demands death, thus, losing life in order to find it in Another. That is the only way it will go, and the “Another” is this Surety only, this High Priest who sacrificed Himself. Hence the searching question to Thomas and us: Have you come to need and to know Him thus in His necessary, priestly ministry? Thomas, it is the way of the blood, the truth of the Lamb, and life through His righteousness!

Or else it will remain dark…What think ye of this Christ in these Passion weeks? Do you need this High Priest to sacrifice in your place, to pray and also bless on the basis of this sacrifice? Only thus will you, with Thomas, pass through the night and death into the Father’s house. When following this faithful Surety, we cannot lose the way, no matter how dark it is now.

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