Doubting Thomas $ The Response Of The Other Disciples

Sunday, April 18, 2004

Title: Doubting Thomas: A look at the Other Disciples

Text: John 20:24-29

Introduction

1. Today is one week after the resurrection.

• As we study God’s Word, we see many exciting things happening following the resurrection…

• There are multiple times when Christ appeared unto different people…

• And each one of these events would certainly be worthy of study.

• But there is one in particular, that I would like to focus on today.

2. On the day that Jesus rose again, He appeared unto the disciples…

• But Thomas wasn’t with them…

• Much has been made of Thomas’ absence…

• Perhaps he felt too grief-stricken to be with the others…

• Perhaps his faith had ebbed away and didn’t want to join with the others…

• We can surmise all we want, but Scripture doesn’t tell us…

• And as a result, he made that great profession of doubt that has followed him for 2,000 years…

• And still today, we refer to him as “doubting Thomas”…

• How would you like to be remembered 2,000 years after your life with some less than complimentary description of your character attached to your name?

• I’m not so sure we’ve been entirely fair with Thomas.

3. In any event, he wasn’t there…

• And he missed out on an incredible blessing…

• However, 1 week after the resurrection…

• Which coincides with our worship service today…

• Jesus came again…

• Only this time, Thomas was there…

• And Thomas makes a great profession of faith.

4. This is a very common story…

• And it is certainly commonly told 1 week after Easter…

• In fact, I have shared with you from this text in the past during the Easter season…

• However, today, I’d like us to look at it a little bit differently…

• The wonderful thing about God’s Word is that it is always fresh…

• Always new…

• Always full of more richness for us to allow to further enrich our lives…

• Today, I’d like us to look at this passage of Scripture…

• NOT from Thomas’ standpoint…

• But from the standpoint of the other disciples.

• Let’s stand together as we read God’s Word.

Text: John 20:24-29

Body

1. First of all, I want you to see that they Noticed that Thomas Wasn’t with Them

A. Thomas had spent 3 years with them…

• They enjoyed meals together…

• They enjoyed sitting at the feet of Jesus together…

• They enjoyed worshipping in the Temple together…

• They had participated in ministry together…

B. But then something incredible happened…

• Jesus rose from the dead…

• It seemed to good to be true…

• But that’s what the Mary’s had told them…

• And even still, they were afraid that what had happened to Jesus would happen to them as well…

• So they were meeting together on Sunday,

• Behind locked doors….

• And all of a sudden, Jesus appeared…

• In spite of the locked doors…

• He spoke to them…

• He showed them the marks in His hands and His side…

• Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”…

• Wow!

• What an incredible boost to their faith!

• What a wonderful visitation of the Lord upon their meeting!...

• But, like we have already pointed out…

• For whatever reason, Thomas wasn’t there.

C. I suppose they could have just enjoyed the wonderful blessing that they had received…

• And forgotten all about Thomas…

• But that’s not what happened…

• Our Scripture implies that they were certainly aware that Thomas wasn’t there.

• So they sought him out.

D. I see a message for us in this.

• Sometimes we have people that have been with us for months; or even years…

• They have joined with us in worship…

• They have shared meals together with us…

• They had ministered together with us…

• But for some reason, they’ve missed out on something recently…

• Maybe they are hurting…

• Maybe they are grieving…

• Maybe they are losing the faith…

• But my question is…Do we notice when those people aren’t here?

• Are we are aware when they have missed out on something special?

• And if so, what do we do?

• Do we just go on about our business…

• Thinking to ourselves… “well, it’s their loss”…

• Or do we actually do something about it like those early disciples did.

2. Secondly, I want you to notice that the disciples Witnessed to Thomas about Their Personal Experience with the Lord

A. Our text indicates that after the disciples sought out Thomas…

• They told him, “we have seen the Lord!”