Thomas and the Resurrection
John 20.24-31
We are all very good at categorising people or placing them in certain boxes. So for example we see a single mum and we immediately place her in a certain place socially. Or we see someone with a drug or alcohol problem and we place them in a certain place and make a certain judgment about their character. We hear someone is a politician and immediately we have them weighed up. You mention the disciple Thomas and we immediately think ‘doubt.’ Thomas has always had ‘doubting’ prefixed to his name. My own first name is Thomas and I am thankful that my parents decided to call me by my middle name instead. This morning I want to take a few moments and for us together to look at this encounter of Thomas with the risen Lord Jesus and to hear what God would teach us from His word this morning. .
So turn with me to verses 24-25 of John 20 – we have in these two verses the context of what is about to happen between Thomas and the risen Christ. John tells us that for some reason Thomas was not with the other disciples when Christ first appeared to them. No reason is given as to why Thomas was not with the other 10 disciples. He may have been so overwhelmed by his grief at the death of Christ that he wanted to be on his own. When the disciples went into hiding at the death of Christ he may have decided that it was safer not to be with the others and so it may have been out of a desire for self-preservation that he was not with them. John doesn’t tell us but in verse 25 we learn that the other disciples have sought him out to tell him that Christ is risen from the dead and that they have seen him. ‘We have seen the Lord’ they tell him. In fact the Greek for ‘said’ means to ‘keep on saying.’ They were persistent in what they were saying to Thomas about Jesus being risen from the dead. Thomas’ response is the typical response to the resurrection, even today. He demands proof. Look at what he says in verse 25 – it is not unreasonable is it for him to wish to see with his own eyes and touch with his own hands the risen Christ. He is quite forthright in his reply to the other disciples. Remember who it is that he is responding to – 10 men with whom he has shared the last 3 years of his life. These are not men he does not know but men with whom he has walked for the past 3 years. These men know Thomas and Thomas knows them. He knows all about Simon Peter and his temper. He knows all about James and John and their nickname ‘sons of thunder’ and he knows John and the beloved disciple. He knows also that these same men a few days earlier had fled in terror from the garden of Gethsemane. He had stood with them as they watched their Jesus die on a cross and as his lifeless body was laid low in the tomb and now they are all claiming to have seen him, raised to life again. Thomas not only expresses his doubt to them but also his determination not to believe unless he sees and touches for himself. ‘I am a realist…’ that is what Thomas is saying to them. You see there is nothing knew in the world – the age old ‘give me proof and I will believe.’ You know when Christ was dying on the cross isn’t that exactly what the crowd and the religious leaders said – come down from the cross and we will believe you. It was not that they had no proof of who he was – his miracles proved who he was – that is why John in his gospel calls them ‘signs’ and not ‘miracles.’ There was enough proof – it wasn’t evidence that was lacking but belief and the same is true for some you here this morning.
Verse 26 – it is one week later and they are all together again and John tells us that this time Thomas is with them. A week in which, no doubt, they had each had a conversation with Thomas about Christ appearing to them. No doubt Peter and John told how they had run to the tomb and how it was empty. No doubt they all had told of Christ’s appearance to them when they were together. Yet Thomas remains unconvinced and unmoved. John records incidental details – the door is locked – they still fear for their lives, even though Christ is risen these men are still frightened, they have not yet been empowered by the Holy Spirit. John simply states ‘Jesus came and stood among them and said…’ The door is locked and Jesus comes and stands before them. The risen Christ is no longer bound by time or space. He is no longer constrained by the laws of physics as he was when he became man and dwelt amongst them. Notice too will you the first thing that Jesus does is ‘speak.’ He says to them: ‘Peace be with you.’ His words come to them as a gentle greeting and a blessing upon them.
Verse 27-29 Jesus now addresses Thomas’ concerns. Without the other disciples telling him Jesus immediately goes to the heart of Thomas’ statements to the other disciples – here is my wounds Thomas, touch them. Here is the proof you desired Thomas, reach in and touch my wounds Thomas. We don’t catch how Christ spoke these words in the written words of the gospel of John. But I don’t think Christ spoke these words with any sarcasm nor with any triumphant note in his voice. Out of love and compassion for the bruised reed and smouldering wick that was Thomas Christ spoke these words to him – almost word for word of what Thomas had said to the other disciples a week earlier. The words are significant – how did Christ know what Thomas had demanded if he were not present with them when they had met a week earlier. No doubt Thomas is taken aback and I have no doubt he is now embarrassed and ashamed at his lack of faith. Now come stronger words from Christ to Thomas – read verse 27.
There is a rebuke here, isn’t there? ‘Stop doubting’ – there is no missing what Christ is saying to Thomas. It is plain and simple. ‘Thomas, stop doubting.’ But it is not only a rebuke it is also a command to Thomas to do something – to stop doubting. Jesus wanted to challenge Thomas about his mindset –about his will, his decision to believe or doubt. He further adds ‘and believe.’ Believe what? Believe in his resurrection on the basis of the wounds? On the basis of the appearance of Christ before him? For Thomas the proof he desired was right before his very eyes and yet John no where records that Thomas reached out and touched the wounds of Christ.
Listen to Thomas’ response to these words of Christ. Read verse 28. Thomas states two things:
My Lord – you are the master of my life. You are the one who rules in my life.
My God – how could you be anything other than the true and living God. I saw you die and I saw your body wrapped in cloths and placed in a tomb. I saw the stone rolled over and sealed with the roman seal, the guards etc. I had no doubts that you were dead but here you are alive before my very eyes. Truly you are my God.
What a change from verse 24 – look at it again. Words of doubt and disbelief, almost anger and annoyance at what the other disciples are telling him. Look again at verse 28 – words of faith and commitment. Thomas has moved from doubt to certainty, from unbelief to belief and commitment. Why? Because he met the risen Christ.
Yet Christ is not finished with him – listen to what Christ says in verse 29 – read. And this morning I want you to hear this verse afresh because Christ spoke it to Thomas for you to hear. Let me read it to you again. You and I are the people who believe without having seen and Christ says to Thomas, and to us, you are blessed for doing so. This is really the climax of John’s gospel. From the first sign, (miracle) at the wedding of Cana of Galilee, recorded by John his desire has been to lead us to this point – where we believe in Christ as the Son of God, the only saviour of mankind. Listen to verses 30-31 – this is written that you might believe and have life, eternal life, in his name. The implications are clear, aren’t they? There is no life outside of his name. There is no eternal life apart from Christ.
Friends there are some you this morning and you stand exactly where Thomas stood that first Easter week – you have heard many people talk about the risen Christ. You have heard people bear witness to meeting Christ Jesus and you have even witnessed the change in people’s lives and yet you still demand more and more proof. Listen to me this morning – there are no more proofs, there is no more evidence. The truth is that Christ rose from the dead and people still did not believe. This morning Christ is here, as he promised, and he speaks the same words into your heart as he spoke into Thomas’ heart – stop doubting and believe. That is the challenge of this morning for us all – to believe Christ at his word and he say we will be blessed because of it.
For those of you who have accepted Christ the encouragement this morning is in those words of Christ that we are blessed because we have believed without seeing. We are also encouraged because we know we have life, eternal life in Christ. So be encouraged this morning because he is risen from the dead and he lives with us, amongst us and in us – we have life because of him and we are richly blessed.
Amen.
