After Christ’s crucifixion, melancholy, forlorn Thomas took his feelings of loss, hurt, abandonment, depression, and retreated off into his shell. Concerning Thomas and the death of Jesus, pastor John MacArthur writes: “He [Thomas] probably said, ‘I knew it would happen! He died and I didn’t die with Him. He went away and I don’t know where He is.’”
Ever tried to talk with someone who is that depressed? How do we like it when we’re hurting and some “happy-jack” comes along with those wonderful, well-meaning words: “Cheer up, it can’t be that bad!”
When we’re depressed, it’s hard for people to reason with us. Perhaps you’ve been down and depressed lately — with nobody to share your grief. I’ve discovered that even pets get depressed! Take little Chippie the parakeet for instance.
Poor Chippie never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage singing, the next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.
Chippie’s problem began when his owner decided to clean his cage with a vacuum. She stuck the nozzle in to suck up the seeds and feathers in the bottom of the cage. Then the phone rang. Instinctively she turned to pick it up. She barely said hello when — sswwwwppppp! Chippie disappeared — into the hose! She gasped, dropped the phone, then shut off the vacuum. With her heart in her throat, she unzipped the bag.
There was Chippie, alive but dazed and confused, covered with heavy black dust. She grabbed him and rushed to the bathtub, turned on the faucet full blast, and held Chippie under a torrent of ice-cold water, powerwashing him clean. Then she did what any thoughtful pet owner would do: She snatched up the hair dryer and blasted the wet, shivering little bird with hot air… Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore!
Well, Thomas was depressed, hurt, and feeling abandoned, so he retreated into his shell, off by himself. John explains (John 20:26-29) that: “A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
The solution to Thomas’ feelings of depression, hurt, and abandonment — and to us when we feel like that — is simply this: Surety comes most often in the fellowship of others! Thomas missed out the first time Jesus appeared because he wasn’t there to see Him!
To be sure, we need times alone with God, but Hebrews 10:24-25 also exhorts us to meet together, regularly, both to receive and to give encouragement! God gives preachers and teachers to the church as His instruments of communication; He also gives us each other, enabled by the Holy Spirit, to comfort and to encourage.
So, had Thomas not gone off by himself, forsaking the fellowship of the others, he would have seen Jesus when He appeared in the upper room the first time, and his fears would have been relieved.