I love that among Jesus’ 12 Apostles there are several sets of brothers – Peter and Andrew, James and John. I also enjoy that we get repeats of names: Simon x2 (though one renamed Peter), James x2, Judas x2 (though one was also called Thaddeus). [Other people have explored relationships etc and since that seems robust and complex I’ll just say “it’s complicated” but potentially more deeply interesting than I’ve even considered. See wikipedia. ]
Among the 12 is “Thomas, called Didymus”‘” — which Thomas apparently means “Twin” and Didymus means “Twin” — really making sure you know he’s a twin.
But we don’t ever get to learn who his brother (or sister) is. And because that is unknown it can be fun to contemplate. I only ever get as far as pondering questions like…
- Other sets of brothers were called to be disciples/apostles, but not Thomas’ twin. How did Thomas feel about that?
- Was Thomas’ twin a disciple/follower of Jesus?
- Was Thomas’ twin a boy or a girl? (I’ve actually pretty much always assumed it was a boy twin so this is fun one to think about)
- If Thomas was called the twin, what was his brother/sister called? They couldn’t both be “Thomas”!
We’d have to know more to make any sort of true progress here (and perhaps people do know more but since I mostly like to ponder than research this type of pondering I just let it be a fun ponder), but I do like thinking of the different options and family dynamics and how that could all have ‘played out’ during Jesus’ lifetime and after the Resurrection when Thomas had to confirm, affirm, and defend his faith in who Jesus was/is.
I ponder things like… Perhaps Thomas’ twin really also wanted to be an Apostle. Or Thomas’ twin was happy for Thomas and that he was called to be an Apostle. Or Thomas’ twin was not religious at all (which would probably not happen given the time period… though perhaps he/she was even more doubting than Thomas!). Or perhaps he/she was not interested in following Jesus because his twin was super religious which would lead her/him to not be willing to “risk it” and follow this Jesus character. …And if so did that ever change?
We know that Thomas is known as “Doubting Thomas” because he questions Jesus’ Resurrection/appearance after His Resurrection. Was this classic Thomas behavior? I am curious about his personality — he clearly had faith and a calling, but he also had a ‘practical’ (not sure that’s the word I want) side –questioning and seeking proof. I think we can all be a bit of a Thomas at times.
Are we his twin?
And if each of us is his twin how do we respond to Jesus and His Word?
Do we doubt like our brother? Or do we accept Jesus?
The Apostles and other disciples left family and friends and home and were often persecuted and martyred for Jesus and the Gospel. And yet they persisted.
Do we have the courage and faith that being a disciple of Jesus requires?
Can we call Jesus “My Lord and My God!” like Thomas does? Can we go from doubt to full faith? If we go from faith to having doubt, can we persevere and persist in having full faith once again even if we cannot physically touch Jesus’ hands and side?
I like Thomas.
I even like the anonymity of Thomas’ twin. Every story and every person connected to Jesus and following Jesus and loving Jesus cannot be known. How much they love Jesus cannot fully be known either. But God knows and that’s enough. …I can ponder and not know and I am fine with that. I don’t need to know even though I like to ponder such things.
The pondering draws me closer to Jesus, to God and into God’s beautiful love story that He wants me to be a part of…. I am content to not see yet I believe because He shows me so much about Him and His love in so many different ways.
Matthew 9:36—10:8
Then he summoned his twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits
to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.
The names of the twelve apostles are these:
first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew;
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector;
James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus;
Simon from Cana, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But Thomas said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Give God Your Yes 