The story of the resurrected Jesus appearing to Thomas showed up in the Moravian text readings a few Sundays ago. You may know the story: Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus first appeared to them, so he doubted the veracity of the story, saying “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Jesus obliges Thomas when he appears to the disciples again, and Thomas believes.
Many of the sermons I’ve heard on this passage are quick to point out that it’s okay to doubt, that we’re too hard on Thomas, that we should be asking questions and “testing everything.” But I am struck by the fact that Jesus tells Thomas the exact opposite. He offers his scars for Thomas to see and touch, but also says to him, “Stop doubting and believe.”