Thomas Got a Bad Rap

In John 20, Jesus comes to his disciples after his resurrection and shows them he is alive (more alive, in fact, than he's ever been; and alive like we will be, like the Father always meant us to be; but that's
a different story for a different day).  Thomas wasn't there when Jesus appears in the upper room, and insists he can't believe until he has seen the evidence. So we've come to call him Doubting Thomas. But was that really the problem? I think not.

In John 11:16, while discussing Lazarus's death, Thomas says, "Great, let's all go, and we'll die with Jesus."  Why? Because, I believe, he was a realist. He saw the conflict with the ruling class and was convinced that Jesus was going to be killed by them. He said what the others didn't dare think. So when the others said they had seen Jesus, his thinking process was something like:  "Jesus is dead. Someone claiming to be Jesus showed up; but since Jesus is dead, therefore it was someone else. The only possible proof would be to see and experience his wounds from crucifixion." And when Jesus did show up, he didn't criticize or rebuke Thomas, but insisted that Thomas experience the proof he was looking for.

We are all different. Can Jesus work with us, even if we have a different thinking process than everyone else? Can he accomplish his will through an outgoing personality and a reserved one? Can he use a thinker as well as a doer, to spread the Kingdom message? I believe Thomas's story gives the answer. How about you?