o
believe.

That night Jesus came again into the room, the doors being shut, and
standing in the midst of his friends, breathed again upon them his
benediction of peace. Then he turned to Thomas; and holding out his
hands, with the print of the nails in them, he asked him to put the
evidences of his resurrection to the very tests he had said he must
make before he could believe. Now Thomas was convinced. He did not
make the tests he had insisted that he must make. There was no need
for it. To look into the face of Jesus, to hear his voice, and to see
the prints of the nails in his hands, was evidence enough even for
Thomas. All his doubts were swept away. Falling at the Master's feet,
he exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!"

Thus the gentleness of Jesus in dealing with his doubts saved Thomas
from being an unbeliever. It is a great thing to have a wise and
faithful friend when one is passing through an experience of doubt.
Many persons are only confirmed in their scepticism by the well-meant
but unwise efforts that are made to convince them of the truth
concerning which they doubt. It is not argument that they need, but
the patience of love, which waits in silence till the right time comes
for words, and which then speaks but little. Thomas was convinced, not
by words, but by seeing the proofs of Christ's love in the prints of
the nails.

We may be glad now that Thomas was hard to convince of the truth of
Christ's resurrection. It makes the proofs more indubitable to us that
one even of the apostles refused at first to believe, and yet at length
was led into triumphant faith. If all the apostles had believed
easily, there would have been no comfort in the gospel for those who
find it hard to believe, and yet who sincerely want to believe. The
fact that one doubted, and even refused to accept the witness of his
fellow-apostles, and then at length was led into clear, strong faith,
forever teaches that doubt is not hopeless. Ofttimes it may be but a
process in the development of faith.

The story of Thomas shows, too, that there may be honest doubt. While
he doubted, he yet loved; perhaps no other one of the apostles loved
Jesus more than did Thomas. He never made any such bold confession as
Peter did, but neither did he ever deny Christ. Thomas has been a
comfort to many because he has shown them that they can be true
Christians, true lovers of Christ, and yet not be able to boast of
their assurance of