Believing Thomas
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24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Introduction: How many of you have a nickname that someone gave to you? I have a family nickname that was given to me that only my family uses - it’s Jake.
It came from my grandpa Davis. He used to call all of the children, “Richard.” Well, my birth name is Richard Darrel. So after he got his “Richard,” he started calling me Jake.
My wife and I also have a nickname for one another. It’s classified.
I found an article about how some of the famous people we know got their nicknames. I want to share some of that with you...
Jackie Chan was working at a construction site in Australia when he got his famous nickname: one of his co-workers couldn't pronounce Chan's first name, Kong-sang, so he called him "Little Jack" instead. The name soon morphed into "Jackie," and stayed that way.
Sugar Ray Robinson was born Walker Smith, Jr., but once he began to make some noise as a boxer, commentators described his fighting style as "sweet as sugar." So beginning in 1939, his manager began promoting him as "Sugar Ray Robinson," and every future boxer named Ray suddenly had a nickname.
Whoopi Goldberg took her stage name from the whoopee cushion. The actress, who was born Caryn Johnson, said that a tendency to break wind led a number of friends and colleagues to accuse her of being "like a whoopee cushion." According to Goldberg, she considered going by the name "Whoopi Cushion" when she advanced her comedy career, but her mother warned her that nobody would take her seriously with such a silly name. Her mom thought it would be smarter to pair "Whoopi" with a more serious name and proposed that her daughter use "Goldberg."
From: http://mentalfloss.com/article/25058/stories-behind-15-celebrity-stage-names accessed 7/12/18.
In our story today, we see a man who has inherited an unfortunate nickname. Anyone care to guess what Thomas’ nickname is? Doubting Thomas. This nickname came about because of his skepticism toward the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The disciples were gathered together behind a locked door hiding for fear that they might be killed also when Jesus appeared in their midst convincing them that he was very much alive. Thomas wasn’t with the group at the time.
When the other disciples tried to tell Thomas that Jesus was indeed, alive, he responded by telling them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."
8 days later, Thomas got his wish when Jesus again appeared to the disciples gathered behind locked doors when Jesus appeared and stood among them. Lets spend a few moments digging deeper into this encounter.
Thomas Had Reasonable Doubts (v. 25)
Thomas Had Reasonable Doubts (v. 25)
In my experience as a pastor and evangelist, I have met many people who had unreasonable doubts about Christianity. One such example is to say, I don’t believe that God exists because I can’t see Him. That statement is unreasonable because in order to prove it, you would have to exhaustively search the entire universe, both seen and unseen, to prove the statement.
Illus. I will never forget the encounter I had once on the streets of New Orleans. I was handing our gospel tracts - the ones I was giving out at the time had a smiley face on them and said, “Smile, Jesus Loves You” on the cover. As I held one out to a college aged man, he took his lit cigarette and smashed it into the cover saying, “I don’t believe in God.” I responded by saying, “ Really…is that so?” He replied, Yep, I hate God.”
At this point I felt compelled to point out the flaw in his reasoning saying, “Wait a minute! How can you hate something that doesn’t exist?” He replied, “Good point.” We then proceeded to have a conversation.
Unfortunately, there are some people who, in spite of any reasonable evidence offered, will chose not to believe that God exists.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:
Thomas was not one of those types of people however, he was a person who had reasonable doubts about the claim that the other disciples were making - that Jesus was alive.
First of all, the disciples knew that Jesus was dead, dead, dead - and dead people don’t come back to life on their own.
Some have tried to deny his physical death saying he only fainted on the cross and when they placed him in the tomb, the cool air revived him.
Problem with that is...
Soldiers at the cross were experts at crucifixion
Blood loss and trauma experienced by Christ before crucifixion
Spear in the side - blood and water came out - fluid gathered around the sack surrounding the heart.
Second, people don’t just come back from the dead in their own power.
The story of Thomas shows us that God is big enough to handle our questions and address our doubts…hence...
Jesus Gave Thomas a Real Demonstration (vv. 26-27)
Jesus Gave Thomas a Real Demonstration (vv. 26-27)
Eight days later, as the disciples gathered together again, Thomas being with them this time, Christ appeared in their midst and said, “Peace Be With You.”
He then personally addressed Thomas’ question: "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."
I love that. Jesus could have easily rebuked Thomas for his unbelief but instead, he invited him to touch the wounds and therefore experience the proof he needed to believe.
God doesn’t reject the honest skeptic.
He invites them to investigate for themselves and find the truth. I believe that God will never turn away anyone who is earnestly seeking to understand. The desire to understand is evidence that God is working in that person’s life.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:8
However, when a person crosses the line and says, “I refuse to believe what I see,” then God will allow that person to carry on in their willful disbelief.
However, when a person crosses the line and says, “I refuse to believe what I see,” then God will allow that person to carry on in their willful disbelief.
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
If you been earnestly seeking to understand who Christ is and what he did for you on the cross, don’t be afraid to ask God who is gracious and patient to reveal Himself to you. God’s word says that he is not willing for anyone to perish but that all would come to repentance.
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Thomas Renounces his Disbelief (vv. 28-29)
Thomas Renounces his Disbelief (vv. 28-29)
After showing Thomas the scars, Jesus challenged him… “Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
Thomas responded: “My Lord and my God!
Here we see an instantaneous change of heart. He went from being Doubting Thomas to Believing Thomas in one statement.
His pouts and his doubts become shouts!
Not only is Thomas making a statement of personal faith, he is also acknowledging the fact that Jesus is God in the flesh.
We don’t know for sure if Thomas actually touched the wounds of Jesus but as someone has pointed out, “He acknowledged the divinity that he could not see by the wounds he did see.”
Have you declared your faith in Jesus? Have you said to him, “My Lord and My God!” His confession of faith was bold and clear. It was a public profession of faith acknowledged before the other disciples. Thomas was saying, “My doubts are now settled. I believe!”
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
I would say that if you who have not made that public profession of faith as Thomas did, “Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
It is interesting to look at What Jesus said that after Thomas declared his faith in Jesus.
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
You see Thomas had already heard the word that Jesus was alive 8 days before he declared his faith. Yet he failed to believe the eye witness testimony of the other disciples. He had the opportunity but he blew it and demanded more evidence.
At that time, Thomas was most like us. He had not seen Jesus. He only had the words of others to go by.
You and I don’t have the benefit of seeing Jesus right now. He ascended to His father in heaven and will one day return in the same manner.
But we have the words of reliable eye-witnesses that have been recorded and passed down to us from generation to generation.
Jesus was talking about us when he made the statement, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
God Rules - He created everything including you and me and he is in charge of everything.
We Sinned - We all choose to disobey God. The Bible calls that sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God’s punishment of death.
God Provided - God sent Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It’s something that we as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us.
Jesus Gives - He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God’s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever!
We Respond - Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He’s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus.