For years, I reduced Thomas to a nickname: “the doubter.” He felt weak compared to the bold disciples, slow to believe, always needing proof. But when I read John 20 again, a small detail shifted my perspective. Thomas doesn’t say he won’t believe — he says he needs to see and touch. The Greek verb there isn’t about stubborn disbelief, but about wanting personal verification. Thomas wasn’t rejecting faith; he was refusing secondhand belief. Then I noticed something I’d overlooked before: earlier in the Gospel, Thomas is the disciple who’s willing to die with Jesus (John 11:16). Suddenly, doubt looked less like rebellion and more like wounded loyalty. When Jesus meets him, He doesn’t shame Thomas — He invites him closer. That realization changed how I read the story, and how I understand faith under pressure. #Jesus #Bible