Doubting Thomas

512

***Doubting Thomas*** is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of the television series *Superbook*.

## Synopsis

Chris tries witnessing to a group of kids on a mission trip and questions its effectiveness when they are unreceptive. Superbook takes the kids to Jerusalem following Christ’s resurrection. Chris and Gizmo hear people say that Jesus' body was stolen by His followers. When Chris disagrees, he's arrested by Roman soldiers who have been bribed by Caiaphas to cover up the truth. Chris and Gizmo escape and are helped by the disciple Thomas. Meanwhile, Joy walks with Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus. They meet a stranger who explains how the Messiah's death was foretold in Scripture. Jesus appears to His disciples and charges them to go into all the world and witness their faith. Thomas insists that he won't believe Jesus is alive unless he touches the Lord's wounds with his own hands. When Jesus appears again and Thomas finally believes, Superbook returns the kids to their own time. Chris tries witnessing again to the same local kids and experiences some encouraging results.

## Bible Profiles

### People

* Jesus
* Thomas
* Cleopas
* Cleopas' Companion
* Peter
* John
* Matthew
* Mary Magdalene
* The Twelve Apostles
* The Apostles
* The Disciples
* Caiaphas
* The Chief Priests

### Places and Artifacts

* Jerusalem
* Emmaus
* The Upper Room

## Characters

* Chris Quantum
* Joy Pepper
* Gizmo

## Plot

On a mission trip to Belize, Chris tries witnessing to on a group of local kids. When they’re unreceptive, he questions the value of witnessing to “people who don't want to listen.”
Superbook takes the kids back to Jerusalem in the aftermath of the Resurrection. Separated from Joy, Chris and Gizmo hear people saying that Jesus' body was stolen by his followers. When Chris tries to set the record straight, he's arrested by Roman soldiers who have been bribed by Caiaphas to suppress the truth about Jesus. Escaping from the soldiers, Chris and Gizmo are helped by the disciple Thomas, who surprises Chris with his skeptical attitude toward the Resurrection.
Meanwhile, Joy falls in with Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus. They meet a stranger who restores their faith by explaining how the Messiah's death was foretold in Scripture. After Cleopas and his companion suddenly realize that the stranger is Jesus, they rush back to Jerusalem, with Joy along, to tell the disciples about the miraculous encounter. Jesus appears again and charges the disciples to go into all the world and witness their faith - but Thomas, along with Chris and Gizmo, arrives too late to see him. Thomas insists that he won't believe Jesus is alive unless he touches the Lord's wounds with his own hands. Chris is dismayed by Thomas' persistent doubt: witnessing must be useless, if even a disciple can't believe in the Resurrection without seeing Jesus himself. Joy realizes that what Jesus did on the road to Emmaus was a lesson about how to share the faith.
When Jesus appears again and Thomas finally believes, Superbook returns the kids to their own time. Encouraged by the words of Jesus -- “Blessed are those who believe without seeing me” -- Chris tries witnessing again to the same local kids. He seems to be rejected again, but later, as the church youth group is helping to build an orphanage, one of the kids joins them, taking the first step toward faith in response to Chris' message that Jesus is always there, for everyone.

## Trivia

* Jia Wei and Ellie appear in this episode but do not speak.