IN the April 14 issue of the Echo Magazine, there is an item on page five headed Doubting Thomas'. The entry underneath this says "This expression, used to describe a person who requires proof before believing anything, has Biblical origins. Christ's disciple, Thomas Didymus, would not believe that Christ had died despite strong evidence that he had.'' Wrong, I'm afraid. Thomas did believe that Jesus had died - he certainly knew, and probably saw, the horror of the Cross where Jesus died. All the disciples were aware of this and were devastated. The actual truth is that Thomas doubted the wonderful reality of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. This is understandable because it's hard to believe in that.

However, Thomas wasn't with the other disciples who were gathered in a locked room, afraid of the authorities whom they believed might harm them.

These people had tried desperately to get rid of Jesus while he was alive, so it was possible they would now pursue his followers. But the disciples had fantastic news.

Jesus had risen, was alive and had been seen by the group of disciples when he appeared to them in the locked room, and also to others.

This was what Thomas couldn't accept. He didn't believe it.

The Gospel of John - a disciple of Jesus - tell us in Chapter 20, verses 24-29 that Thomas said that, unless he could see the scars of the nails in Jesus' hands and put his hand into the wounded side of Jesus, he would not and could not believe.

A week later, the disciples were again together in a locked room and Jesus appeared to them, quite amazingly!

This time Thomas was with them and Jesus offered the evidence of his wounds, received on the Cross, to him and challenged Thomas to stop doubting and to believe.

Thomas could not dispute the obvious evidence and answered Jesus with the words "My Lord and my God''.

For him, the doubting was over.

Jesus followed this with the words "Do you believe because you have seen me? How happy are those who believe without seeing.'' That is the position in which I, and all Christian believers find themselves.

We have not had the advantage of an encounter with Jesus as Thomas did, but we believe because we have invited Jesus into our lives and are sure of his presence and love. We know he is alive!

MRS J LARKIN, Chandlers Ford.