....I want to Believe!...(John 20:24-29)
Thomas was always asking questions. This may have been bothersome to the other disciples.
But Thomas was not all bad, and he was not all doubter. he was just very human. He is like us in more than just doubts.
The other disciples also had their doubts...
We are not talking about wholesome questioning. We speak of the resurrection experience in which Thomas shared the difficulty of believing with the other disciples.
The women who went to the tomb in the early morning came back saying: "We have seen the Lord! He is risen!"
It was the consensus among the disciples (Luke 24) that the women's words seemed as idle talk. There was still doubt in their minds.
John's gospel gives three experiences which show Thomas' dilemma of doubt.
All three times he was asking questions.
Doubting Thomas, he was... He was slow to act, and belief did not come easy for him.
When conviction came, he grasped it. He wanted to know.
He wanted proof, and that's not a bad trait.
In the upper room Jesus was trying to tell his disciples that he was actually going to die. Thomas could believe they were all going to get killed, but he didn't want Jesus to die!
He didn't mind going anywhere with Jesus. He didn't really mind dying with Jesus. But he had come to the place in his courageous devotion that he did not want to live without Jesus.
When you sense the joy and wonder of God's presence, then if the skies turn dark and you can no longer hear the voice of God, you feel there is little reason for living.
Life hold nothing...until you return to Him who is the answer to all questions.
In a way, Thomas was asking our questions.
Jesus didn't seem to consider Thomas an interrupter.
Our Lord, who knew all things, listened to him patiently and understood that Thomas needed his doubts removed.
"I am the way," Jesus said, "the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
"Ye believe in God, believe also in me." "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again." (John 14:1-2)
They were given consolation and comfort in the hope of the return of Christ.
Thomas' questions were the same kind of questions we ask on a dark night, in a closed room, when nobody but God is listening.
When doubt is cleared up, it leads to renewed confession.
The evening of Christ's resurrection the disciples gathered behind closed doors. The rumors had been strange and confusing.
They certainly were not expecting Jesus.
Formerly, in their togetherness had been strength, so they come together in hope that somebody had seen and heard something of Jesus that would give them encouragement.
Quite unexpectedly, the risen Jesus appeared in their midst.
"But Thomas... was not with them when Jesus came." (John 20:24)
Therefore he was deprived of the blessing of the Lord's presence.
The news got back to Thomas that Jesus had appeared to the others. He had missed it!
Thomas began to feel pressure. he envied the fact that they had seen and felt something that he had not.
"Except I shall see... the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25)
A week later Jesus confronted him.
As soon as Thomas saw Jesus, he was no longer anxious to put his finger into Jesus' side.
He fell on his face and exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!"
He made the good confession!... the leap of faith.
Jesus said to him and to us, "Because thou hast seen me, thou has believed; blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29)
Thomas was always asking questions. This may have been bothersome to the other disciples.
But Thomas was not all bad, and he was not all doubter. he was just very human. He is like us in more than just doubts.
The other disciples also had their doubts...
We are not talking about wholesome questioning. We speak of the resurrection experience in which Thomas shared the difficulty of believing with the other disciples.
The women who went to the tomb in the early morning came back saying: "We have seen the Lord! He is risen!"
It was the consensus among the disciples (Luke 24) that the women's words seemed as idle talk. There was still doubt in their minds.
John's gospel gives three experiences which show Thomas' dilemma of doubt.
All three times he was asking questions.
Doubting Thomas, he was... He was slow to act, and belief did not come easy for him.
When conviction came, he grasped it. He wanted to know.
He wanted proof, and that's not a bad trait.
In the upper room Jesus was trying to tell his disciples that he was actually going to die. Thomas could believe they were all going to get killed, but he didn't want Jesus to die!
He didn't mind going anywhere with Jesus. He didn't really mind dying with Jesus. But he had come to the place in his courageous devotion that he did not want to live without Jesus.
When you sense the joy and wonder of God's presence, then if the skies turn dark and you can no longer hear the voice of God, you feel there is little reason for living.
Life hold nothing...until you return to Him who is the answer to all questions.
In a way, Thomas was asking our questions.
Jesus didn't seem to consider Thomas an interrupter.Our Lord, who knew all things, listened to him patiently and understood that Thomas needed his doubts removed.
"I am the way," Jesus said, "the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
"Ye believe in God, believe also in me." "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again." (John 14:1-2)
They were given consolation and comfort in the hope of the return of Christ.
Thomas' questions were the same kind of questions we ask on a dark night, in a closed room, when nobody but God is listening.
When doubt is cleared up, it leads to renewed confession.
The evening of Christ's resurrection the disciples gathered behind closed doors. The rumors had been strange and confusing.They certainly were not expecting Jesus.
Formerly, in their togetherness had been strength, so they come together in hope that somebody had seen and heard something of Jesus that would give them encouragement.
Quite unexpectedly, the risen Jesus appeared in their midst.
"But Thomas... was not with them when Jesus came." (John 20:24)
Therefore he was deprived of the blessing of the Lord's presence.
The news got back to Thomas that Jesus had appeared to the others. He had missed it!
Thomas began to feel pressure. he envied the fact that they had seen and felt something that he had not.
"Except I shall see... the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25)
A week later Jesus confronted him.
As soon as Thomas saw Jesus, he was no longer anxious to put his finger into Jesus' side.
He fell on his face and exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!"
He made the good confession!... the leap of faith.
Jesus said to him and to us, "Because thou hast seen me, thou has believed; blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29)
Persons of the Passion
R. Earl Allen
All Posters
R. Earl Allen
All Posters
2 comments:
I love all those scripture verses, Mimi. I pray we will always believe, have faith and hope in our Lord Jesus. An excellent post ~
the Lord put every type of personality in the bible, didn't He? there is always someone we can relate to - or share a story with ...
blessings on your week!
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