Thomas and Saul Encounter the Risen Christ

Hilary Wenzel - May 4, 2025

John 20: 26-28,  Acts 9:1-7, 8-9, 17-20

Last week Jesse shared John 20: 26-29 about Thomas’s encounter with the Risen Jesus, and Thomas’ response “My Lord and my God!”   We explored the idea of faith as the willingness to confront doubts rather than the absence of doubt…that Jesus meets us where we are.   And Jesus blesses our search to build faith that trusts God.  

Today is the second Sunday after Easter, and the lectionary offers the story of Saul’s encounter with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, and Saul’s response, as found in Acts 9: 1-20.   I was curious to compare these men and events.

We know less about Thomas than Saul in the New Testament.  He is chosen early on among the disciples as one of the 12 apostles (Luke 6:15).   He shows courage saying “Lets go so that we may die with Him,” persuading the other disciples to return to Judea where Jesus recently escaped stoning (John 11:16).   He has a questioning mind and seeks concrete answers, when he says to Jesus “Lord..we don’t know where you are going.  How can we know the way?” (John 14: 5).   He is there when the Risen Jesus reveals himself to the disciples as they fish.   John 21: 1-2.  He was among those praying together after seeing Jesus taken up into heaven.  Acts 1: 13.

Some Non Bible history and traditions say the Apostles cast lots to decide where they would preach the Good News.  Thomas drew Parthia,  in modern day Iran and Afghanistan.   Parthia was a center for Silk Road trade and sea trade for spices.  His name was Syrian or Aramaic for “twin.”  These were common languages in the area.   There was a small minority of Jews and early Christians there in the 1st century.   Thomas could have served them very well.

Then, 20 years later, in 52 AD, stories of Thomas appeared in the region of Kerala India.   Kerala is a long, narrow strip at the southwest tip of India, bordered by mountains inland and the Arabian Sea to the west.   So it was partly isolated from the rest of India.  It had its own language.   And it was more open to other cultures due to the spice trade.  Today there are more than 6 million Christians in Kerala, about 18% of the population.   Most identify as St. Thomas Christians.   He is credited with starting 7 churches along the coast.   At some point, he moved to the east coast of India where his work and ideas were not tolerated, and he was speared to death in 72 AD.   He is venerated as the Apostle of India and there is a pilgrimage site where he died.    In the Life of the Saints, Thomas is the Patron of the blind, of builders, masons, architects, of mathematicians of geometry and of theologians.

Thomas also plays an important part in one of my favorite books -

A Faith of Many Rooms,  by Debie Thomas.

In a way, she grew up with him.   She shares her immigrant childhood journey from southern India to the United States…and  her spiritual journey from her original Pentecostal  upbringing to her life in Episcopal ministry…and her understanding of Christianity as  a religion of paradoxes… opposites if your will…that reveal the “roominess of God.”  

She also tells a legend about Thomas coming to India to construct a palace for a 1st century king, only to give the king’s money to the poor laborers.  The king is convinced to spare him, learning that his palace is waiting for him in heaven.   Thomas is freed, baptizes the king and stays in India gaining many converts until his death.

And so we know Thomas was with Jesus throughout His ministry.   Though often mysterious and perplexing, he knew the man.   We can think that he demanded and deserved his own concrete experience of the Risen Jesus.   He too was chosen to be astonished by what God can do..so he also could  carry God’s message for Creation out into the world in his own way.

Who was Saul before he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus?  He was about as different from Thomas as you could get.   We see a zealous protector of Jewish tradition and religious law.   You might say he was a young up and comer, working to protect the interests of the Sanhedrin, the center of Jewish religious and legal power.   How did he get this role?

We read he was born in Tarsus (in modern-day Turkey) to Jewish parents who were Roman citizens.   He was close in age to Jesus.   His family returned to Jerusalem when he was a child, and he studied Scripture and the Law under Rabbi Gamaliel, a famous and respected teacher.   Saul was a Pharisee.   He believed in the Resurrection.   His education and credentials allowed him to speak in synagogues wherever he traveled.  

He was likely aware of the Jesus movement, if only to assess its threat to his world.   Seeing that Jesus’ crucifixion didn’t stop his followers, Saul took a leadership role to crush them.   After the trial and stoning of Stephen, he approved that execution.   He played a brutal part in the persecution that followed (Acts 7 and 8).   Then, still “breathing threats and murder”  he received permission letters to capture Jesus followers in the synagogues of Damascus, a few days' journey north (Acts 9:2).  

He could have witnessed or heard about Jesus speaking with religious leaders.   Did any part of him ponder this on his journey?   In any case, he experienced something that tore him out of his known world,  and thrust his whole being and identity into a new relationship with God.   He was called by name… and given a new direction for his life.   He prayed and fasted, his sight was restored and he was baptized.   He regained his strength and zeal, this time proclaiming Jesus is the Son of God ((Acts 9:20).

Whether these stories are new or old to us, let’s remember the impact they had on these men, and the impact these men have had in the world.   And let’s remember.. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are here with us too.  That’s astonishing, amazing Good News to reassure and re-energize us, body and soul!