Jesus Appears to Thomas

For the past couple of days, our verse by verse study of John segued us to important theological doctrines— Some questions that we encountered also led us to challenge ourselves to let our study branch out in search for answers

The other day and yesterday we learned about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Binding and Loosing

I MUST BE BAPTIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GIVE ME GUIDANCE AND VISION

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL EMPOWER ME FOR THE MISSION

JESUS AUTHORIZED THE CHURCH LEADERS TO EXCOMMUNICATE ERRING MEMBERS

BELIEVERS ARE EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CAST OUT DEMONS

Today let’s move on to see what happened when Jesus appeared for the third time after His resurrection— this time with Thomas— Open your Bible to JOHN 20:24-29— once you get there I’d like you to type, “let’s see what happens!”

CHARACTER OF GOD, SIN TO CONFESS, PROMISES TO CLAIM, ATTITUDE TO CHANGE, COMMANDS TO KEEP, EXAMPLES TO FOLLOW, PRAYERS TO PRAY, ERRORS TO AVOID, TRUTH TO BELIEVE, SOMETHING TO THANK GOD FOR

Read JOHN 20:24-29

BOOK

John 20:24–29 NIV

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though 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; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

WHAT: This is now the third time that Jesus appeared after His resurrection

WHEN: A week later (it could be the Sunday after the first resurrection Sunday)

WHERE: In a house

WHO: Disciples, Thomas [ 1 of the 12 also known as Didymus] and the Resurrected Lord Jesus

WHY: To appear to Thomas

LOOK

UNLESS I SEE, I WILL NOT BELIEVE

This was not the first time that Thomas displayed his doubts— that’s why he was called “Doubting Thomas”— JOHN 11:16

PUT YOUR FINGER HERE; SEE MY HANDS. STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE!

If you recall last week— when we looked at the first appearance of our Lord after rising from the dead, He told Mary Magdalene— JOHN 20:17

These statements of Jesus was opened to varying interpretations— if you’re going to look at the book of Leviticus 21 [book of OT laws & rules], you will see that the High Priest should remain clean as he performs his duty at the earthly tabernacle— If you take this view, then Jesus ascended to heaven during the time between his second and third appearance

But, while Jesus refused to be touched by Mary and then here he offered Thomas to touch him, it is not clearly recorded if indeed Thomas touched him

Whenever the Bible is silent, we can only make assumptions— and not build a doctrine out of it. Besides, this is a “non-essential”— whether or not Jesus ascended to the Father in between those appearances, it does not affect our salvation

After Jesus offered Thomas to touched him, the Bible did not say that Thomas actually did touched him— instead this is what Thomas said…

MY LORD AND MY GOD

Why does he have to be redundant?

Thomas affirmed what Jesus has been alluding through out the Gospel— Jesus is more than a teacher and a master— He is God

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVED

This does not only refer to the audience John who wrote this Gospel— but it also refers to the believers of today who have not seen the resurrected Jesus with their own eyes

ARE YOU STILL IN DOUBT IF JESUS IS FOR REAL?

Are you going to wait for his second coming before you believe?

You might not see Jesus in person before then— and that might be too late for you

Look how the Bible describe faith in— HEBREWS 11:1, 2 CORINTHIANS 4:18, ROMANS 8:24, 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7

TOOK

HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NO HOPE AT ALL

I LIVE BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT

If you want to believe in Jesus— you can do it right now!

SING

Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble— Agape Worship

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