An Unlikely Easter Story
Have you ever been told you have a doppelganger (remember, that funny German word from last decade that meant you had a lookalike or twin)?
Once in a while, someone will tell me this. Then, I’ll look up the person on Google and be like Meh, I guess if you want to see it bad enough.
My dad on the other hand, is another story. In the 80s and 90s, he was the spitting image of Chevy Chase. Yes, that Chevy Chase - National Lampoon’s Vacation, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Caddy Shack, etc. He even has that same cute little dimple on his chin that Beverly D’Angelo would always affectionately poke.
He would turn heads wherever he went. I remember one time that he was at our high school’s Friday night football game and there was a guy a few seats away who kept giving him quick glances. As time went on, the glances turned to longer looks with squinting eyes. Mind you, my Dad knew exactly what was happening. This wasn’t his first rodeo as a Chevy doppelganger.
Eventually, the guy walks over and starts “…are you…?”. My dad didn’t even let him finish his sentence. He politely answered immediately, “No, I’m not Chevy Chase.”
I figure there are way worse people to look like. I’d take a Chevy Chase Dad lookalike any day of the week.
Interestingly, Jesus might have had a doppelganger too (though, I promise that word doesn’t appear in any version of the Bible anywhere). There was a guy named Thomas who’s referred to as “the twin” in the Bible. Thomas was one of the original disciples of Jesus, and there’s a hot debate among Bible-debaters on whether he was a Jesus lookalike or a real or metaphorical twin of someone else. (spoiler alert: we will never know the answer).
Just for kicks, I like to imagine that if Thomas was a Jesus doppelganger, people got confused and started following Thomas around instead of Jesus. Or that Thomas got misguided miracle requests. Hey, my brother just died. Can you bring him back to life? …Dude, you got the wrong guy.
Maybe a little more pressure than a Chevy Chase doppelganger.
Again, we’ll never know, because we know very little about the apostle Thomas, but I like to think about Thomas a lot. Though he’s only mentioned a handful of times in scripture, he’s one of my most favorite people in the Bible. I like Thomas’ honesty. And I feel like I can relate to Thomas.
See, Thomas is best known for being a “doubter”. You may have even heard someone referred to as a “Doubting Thomas.” (By the way, I hope you never call someone that after you read this post. Maybe you’ll call them an “Honest Thomas” after this post.)
Thomas gets this unfortunate nickname from a story that happens right after Jesus dies. I won’t belabor the Easter story, but the Cliff’s Notes version is this:
Local religious leaders don’t like Jesus, so they convince the Roman government to have him tortured and killed. Jesus reaches his seemingly untimely, though perfectly-timed by God, death. Everyone is sad. Like really sad…and scared. Then in a shocking turn of events, Jesus shows up in real life, very much NOT dead. ( ::gasp:: The crowd goes wild!!)
I think you knew that story, but figured I’d mention just in case.
So, a few days after that happened, Jesus is still walking around Earth like he didn’t just die (God is fancy like that). All of Jesus’ disciples are hiding in room, except Thomas isn’t there. Judas isn’t there either, for obvious reasons #yourenotinvited #hegone
While everyone is hiding out, Jesus just pops into the room (that’s a loose translation). And everyone there is in awe - naturally. But Thomas isn’t there, so he doesn’t see Jesus back from the dead.
When Thomas does come back, Jesus is gone, but everyone is all “Dude, you just missed Jesus being here! Here’s not dead anymore!” (another loose translation)
And Thomas is not having it. He thinks they’re all yanking his chain and gives them the old “I’ll believe it when I see it!” (That’s actually a pretty spot on translation there - John 20:25) He’s not believing everyone. Not only does he want to see Jesus with his own two eyes, he wants to touch his hands and make sure he’s real.
This actually isn’t characteristic of Thomas. See, Thomas is one of Jesus’s “ride or die” apostles, for lack of a better term (John 11:16). Thomas was a solid believer of Jesus when Jesus was alive…the first time. Thomas is simply in a season of doubt and not sure what to believe.
Have you ever been there? In a season of doubt? (This is me raising my hand high high high in the front row.)
But here’s what happens a week after that…
All of the disciples (#notjudas) are still hiding out under lock and key and Jesus pops into the room again…as God does. But this time, Thomas is there to see it. Jesus says hi and then turns to Thomas and says “touch my hands….believe.”
And he does.
Sometimes I think the most important part of what we can learn from the Bible is what Jesus didn’t say.
When Jesus showed up to Thomas, who was in a season of doubt, Jesus did chastise him. He didn’t lecture him. He didn’t punish him.
Jesus simply showed up and was there for him.
I think that’s what Jesus still does for all of us today. In seasons of doubt, he’s not there to condemn us and make us feel bad for the season we’re in.
He’s just simply there for us.
Happy Easter, Friends.
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If you liked this post, you might also like the Finding Faith series, specifically The Prayer That Changed Everything.
Want to read the actual Bible instead of me paraphrasing? Check out the story here.
