John 11:16

This is the first reference in the Gospels to Thomas saying something. John described this member of the Twelve (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13) further as the one called the twin. The name "Thomas" evidently comes from the Hebrew tom and the Aramaic toma both of which mean twin. "Didymus" is the Greek equivalent of "twin." We do not know for sure who Thomas’ twin brother or sister may have been. Usually Peter was the spokesman for the Twelve, but here, as later, John presented Thomas as speaking out (cf. John 14:5; John 20:24-29; John 21:2).

"We do not know whose twin he was, but there are times when all of us seem to be his twin when we consider our unbelief and depressed feelings!" [Note: Wiersbe, 1:335.]

Most Christians tend to think of Thomas as a doubter because of His unwillingness to believe in Jesus later (John 20:24-29). However here his devotion to Jesus and his courage stand out. He did not understand how safe the disciples would be going up to Bethany since they were with Jesus who was walking in obedience to His Father (John 11:9-10). He did not understand that the death that Jesus would die was a death that His disciples could not participate in with Him (cf. John 1:29; John 1:36). Nevertheless he spoke better than he knew. John probably recorded his exhortation because it was a call to disciples to take up their cross and follow Jesus (cf. John 12:25; Mark 8:34; 2 Corinthians 4:10).