He will not accept secondhand evidence. He waits to see for himself. Thomas has his questions. Thomas may even have his doubts, but he has his questions and he has his doubts in the very midst of the community. Picture that clearly.
People hunger for a place where their questions and doubts can be thoughtfully explored.
People have questions and people wonder if there is a place where they can explore their questions. Thomas was with them. Thomas' presence reminds us that questions and doubts are by no means hostile to faith. Indeed, it is through questions and in the very midst of doubts that faith is born. Faith honors questions because questions are only one more of the many ways we come to God.