Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." – John 11:16

 Today's Scripture Reading (December 8, 2020): John 11

There is a moment in the situation-comedy "The Big Bang Theory" where Howard is preparing to go to the International Space Station and tries to manipulate his space nickname. He admits that he understands that the other astronauts get to choose his nickname, but he is hoping for something cool. And Howard and his friends have decided that "Rocketman" would be a proper nickname for Howard. The idea is that when Howard is next on a phone call with the other space travelers, he would have Elton John's "Rocketman" play and then admit that "Rocketman" is the nickname that some of his friends have already chosen for him in his daily life. Of course, when the call happens, everything goes wrong, and part of the problem is that Howard's mom calls up to him loudly, wondering if he wants his "Fruit Loops." And that is the name that catches the imaginations of the other astronauts. From this point forward and much to the new astronaut's dismay, Howard would be forever known as "Fruit Loops."

We don't often get to choose how the world sees us. My nickname growing up was never something that I wanted. I am large. When I played football, if I had a nickname, it was "Monster Mash." And that was probably the nicest of my nicknames. Others included "Brick Wall" and "The Incredible Bulk." None of these names was something that I would have chosen for myself.

Thomas was a disciple. Most of us know him by the nickname we have given to him; "The Doubter" or "Doubting Thomas." The nickname arises out of a situation that occurred after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus had come and met with the disciples, while Thomas was not with them. Rather than believing that Jesus had indeed appeared to his friends, Thomas's reaction shaped how we see him; "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" (John 20:25).

I have always felt sorry for Thomas. We have all had moments that we wish we could take back, moments that we hoped would not define us. And up until this moment, "The Doubter" is not how Thomas is known. Every Hebrew man had two names; a Hebrew name by which he was known among his circle of friends, and a Greek nickname by which he was known among his wider circle of acquaintances. For Thomas, "Thomas" is his Hebrew name, and "Didymus" is his Greek nickname. "Didymus" means "The Twin," and it is a name that was given to Thomas because he is rumored to have looked very similar to Jesus. So, in this situation, the reality is that if he were to go to Jerusalem, Jesus's enemies might grab him by mistake instead of the Rabbi. (Which also might explain why Jesus's opponents would have needed Judas to show them which one was Jesus.) But at this moment, Thomas wasn't "The Doubter." He was a disciple who was bravely willing to walk into danger for no other reason than that the Rabbi thought it was necessary.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Matthew 19