Doubting Thomas Series

INTRODUCTION

• Today we will conclude our four-week series concerning the issue of dealing with doubt.

• We have covered the fact that we can go through seasons of doubt; and that our expectations can lead to doubt.

• Last week we examined how we can struggle to believe because what we see in life does not match what we want to believe.

• Today we will conclude our series by looking at a person you know we have to examine when we tackle the subject of doubt or a struggle to believe.

• How would you like to be known for one mistake you made or one moment of weakness in your life?

• Thomas was one of the original twelve disciples.

• Thomas was a faithful disciple of Jesus.

• We find quotations of Thomas throughout the Gospels.

• When Jesus was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, he was warned by his disciples that Jews wanted to stone him (John 11:5–8).

• Thomas interpreted Jesus going to be with the deceased Lazarus as a part of his plan to restore God’s kingdom.

• The zealous Thomas said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16).

• Thomas believed in Jesus as the Messiah—to the extent of martyrdom!

• Thomas was not a disciple who was “lukewarm” or skeptical.

• He had a close relationship with Jesus and would follow him to the end.

• Later in Thomas’s life, according to tradition, Thomas spread the gospel in Parthia and Persia, where he died. Later tradition places Thomas in India, where he was martyred. The Mar Thoma church in India traces its origins to Thomas. (THIS IS TRADITION) Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K., Thomas Nelson Publishers (Eds.). (1995). In Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.

• With all of the devotion Thomas showed to Jesus, to get stuck with one of the worst nicknames outside of being called a Judas is a shame.

• The passage we will cover takes place after the resurrection.

• This is a tense, fearful and confusing time for the disciples.

• Remember what they expected.

• Jesus would sit on the throne, put Israel on top again, and kick Rome out on its ear.

• These men were with Jesus from the beginning.

• These men saw and participated in all the miracles, teaching, healing, and some even saw the Transfiguration!

• Here they are, just hours after Mary told them Jesus was alive, sitting behind locked doors, fearful of being rounded up and possibly crucified as Jesus was.

• Something unexpected is about to happen to these men.

• Thomas is called doubting Thomas.

• When we think of someone who doubts, we tend to believe that person is far away from God.

• However, that is not always the case.

› Big Idea of the Message: Just like Thomas, our doubt can show how close we are to God; we can be transformed by Jesus in our doubt.

• As we go through the narrative today, we will see how Jesus will deal with this man struggling with doubt!

• Let’s turn to John 20:19-23

John 20:19–23 (CSB)

19 When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

20 Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”

22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

SERMON

I. A moment to remember.

• I cannot imagine the level of anxiety the disciples were feeling at this point.

• All of their hopes and dreams were shattered on the cross on Friday.

• There had been some glimmers of hope; Mary’s report and Peter and John's examination of the empty tomb.

• But for some reason, even after all of the times Jesus told the disciples what was going to happen, they were still disappointed, anxious, confused, and afraid.

• Have you ever had your world shattered, your hopes and dreams crushed?

• This is the context of what the disciples are dealing with.

• Our story today hits on all of the other messages from this series.

• The disciple's expectations of a Messiah were not going to be met by a dead Messiah.

• Yes, Jesus told them many times He would rise again.