Thursday, April 24, 2014

Doubting Thomas? Really?

            “Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 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.’ 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.’ 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.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:24-31 ESV

            When people talk about Jesus’ Twelve Apostles, there are a few who often have  negative things associated with them. Of course there is Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. We correctly remember his infamous actions. Judas was full of remorse after his betrayal of the Messiah—he felt bad about the consequences—but did not repent and receive forgiveness from the Lord Jesus. There is another Apostle—Thomas, AKA “Doubting Thomas” by many. How is he remembered? He doubted! But whatand why did he doubt? He knew that Jesus had been crucified. His Messiah was dead. And that was the end of that—or so he thought! He did not anticipate a resurrected Lord who would rise from the dead on the third day. Jesus told him in advance, but Thomas did not understand what Jesus meant by those words at that time. So, when the other disciples claimed to have seen Jesus who had risen from the dead, Thomas doubted. He thought that it would never happen; it could never happen. There was no conspiracy among the disciples to make up stories. The Scriptures record the true, historical events that correspond with reality.

            What would persuade Thomas to go from disbelieving to belief that Jesus was alive?

            “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,” Thomas said. Why was Thomas so stubborn? He needed to be convinced that Jesus was alive with proof, not with a mere subjective feeling in his heart. Eight days later, Thomas had his chance. Jesus, in his mercy, offered 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.” A resurrected-from-the-dead Jesus was not a figment of anyone’s imagination. He was raised bodily from the dead, after defeating sin, death, and the Devil by His sacrifice of Himself. In doing this, Jesus satisfied the holy wrath of the Father on our behalf—for you and for me! Thomas confessed about Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Notice that Jesus accepted those statements about Himself. Jesus is Lord! Jesus is God! Jesus is the second person of the Holy Trinity! He is the only means by which we can be certain that our sins are forgiven, that we have peace with our Creator, and that we have a home in Heaven. “Do not disbelieve, but believe.” These words are for Thomas; these words are for you. Thomas did trust in Jesus—even to the point of dying a martyr’s death as a missionary to India for his Lord.