“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”  John 20: 25 Thomas doubted the words of his friends who said they had seen the risen Lord. He wanted to see the risen Lord for himself, examine the evidence and then believe. But we usually contrast his refusal to believe with the faith of the other disciples. This is unfair. Mark records that when Mary Magdalene saw Jesus, the disciples who were mourning and weeping did not believe her (Mark 16:10-11). Later, when the disciples on the road to Emmaus reported their encounter with the risen Lord, "they did not believe them" (Mark 16:12-13). Matthew records that even after several appearances just before the ascension, many doubted: "When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted" (Matthew 28:17). Doubt was in the minds of most of the disciples. Even those who believed did not believe because they understood the Script...