NOT ONE IS MISSING (JOHN 20:19-31)
I had lost a lot of things besides my shampoo and swimming trunks in gym. One was a set of keys I lost inside a hotel room on a trip. No maid entered my room but I could not find it again after seeing it in the morning. Another was my driver’s license on my way to attend a conference. I was really at a loss to what to do. I noticed it missing when I was getting gas two hours before the conference begins and the trip to San Diego was one and half hours away. If I were to get one at DMV immediately, the long lines and the slow workers there would keep me there till the end of the day, but the seminar I signed up was eight hours short. In those days, I kept my driver’s license in a small plastic jacket so that I can just grab the license going to gym and leave the wallet and cash at home. I decided to go to the conference I had signed up for a year earlier.
After coming back from the conference, I lined up at DMV office half an hour before the office opened. I took my documents with me, but they needed me to renew my Social Security to reflect the added “Victor” name to my license. It was more than a day’s work. Several days later, I found the lost license in the car, stuck in the most unbelievable place, wedged in the crack between the seat and the seal belt buckle!
The worst thing I have lost so far was my wedding ring shortly before my seventh anniversary. The ring was so stuck to my fat finger from cracking knuckles that I thought I would have to hire someone to cut the ring so that it would not choke me in the future. Lo and behold, four years of swimming slimmed down even my swollen finger.
One of the harshest critics of Jesus’ resurrection was not an enemy of Christ or a stranger to Him, but one of his apostles, Thomas. He was nicknamed “Doubting Thomas” for his suspicion of Jesus’ appearance, his disparagement of the evidence and distrust of what the other apostles had said. Jesus returned to set the “lost” Thomas straight, correct his attitude and use him for a powerful witness to the resurrection.
What are doubts? How do they arise? Why must we deal with it and how do we do it?
Unresolved Doubts Lead to Discontent
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. (John 20:19-24)
There’s an old story about a fisherman who was very successful. Every morning he went out on the lake in a small boat and when he returned a couple of hours later, his boat was loaded down with fish. He never failed. People wondered how he did it, even when others were not catching anything at all. He always came in with his boat just overflowing with fish.
One morning a stranger showed up with his fishing tackle and said, “Mind if I go fishing with you this morning?” “No,” said the fisherman. “Just hop in and we’ll go over to a little cove where I always have good luck.” The man hopped in the boat and off they headed across the lake until they came to a small cove. The old fisherman stopped the boat and cut off the motor. He reached over in his tackle box and took out a red stick of dynamite. He lit the fuse and held it for a moment as the fuse burned down. Then at the last moment he tossed it in the water and there was a tremendous explosion. Fish were everywhere on the water. He picked up his net and began scooping up the fish.
After watching this for a moment the stranger reached in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. Opening it up, he showed a badge and said, “I’m a game warden and you are under arrest.” The old fisherman simply reached over into his box and pulled out another stick of dynamite. He lit it and held it as the fuse burned down. Then, he tossed it to the game warden and said, “Now, are you going to just sit there or are you going to fish?”
Thomas put in a most awkward no-win position. He was the only apostle not present to witness Jesus’ first appearance to the disciples behind locked doors. Worse, he earned the dubious name of Didymus or “double” from now on. Why was he given this ironic and paradoxical name? Because he had no joy while the disciples were overjoyed (v 20). Why did he have no joy? Was it because he was not with the disciples when Jesus came? He had no joy not because Jesus did not value him, not because he was displaced as an apostle, not because he did not receive the Holy Spirit, not because Jesus did not show the disciples his hand and side, not because the disciples kept it a secret, but because he was not present to rejoice. The greatest thing in the world happened and he was discontent because he did not show up. How silly was that? Several days ago, the cowardly disciples deserted Him and fled, but now he could not share in the disciples’ joy just because he did not attend (Matt 26:56). Why he missed out was another story. Jesus was there to comfort the scared disciples hiding behind locked doors, but apparently Thomas was either not scared or needed no comfort, since he was not there. His need was not the same as the disciples’. The Lord did not allow this attitude to simmer, bubble and fester for long in Thomas. participate
Discontent is not “joining in” the celebration of a graduate just because you cannot join the graduation, not congratulating a promoted employee just because you did not get a raise, not rejoicing with the newly weds just because you are not the one married. Worse, discontent left unchecked means dissatisfaction, frustration and misery with what others have and what you do not have. Aren’t you happy for friends who are joyful and not fearful anymore?
The disciples were smiling, beaming and grinning while they were telling Thomas what happened, but Thomas responded with a smirk, a frown and a glare on his face. Thomas wasn’t a charlatan or a counterfeit but he wasn’t a convert in the true sense of the word. Thomas had nothing personal against the apostles, but he was a killjoy, a spoilsport, a party pooper.
Unresolved Doubts Lead to Dissent
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” (John 20:25)
In the book “Going to Plan B” by Nancy Schlossberg (Fireside) the writer talks about the disappointment over non-events in our lives. Non-events are unrealized dreams leaving some people angry and resentful, things you wanted and expected to have happen, but never did. The writer’s suggestions include:
- Not having a brother, sister
- Not getting married
- Not having a first, second, or third child
- Not having a close relationship with a family member
- Not getting the job you expected
- Not being a power player at work
- Not receiving a coveted award
- Not becoming a noted athlete
- Not having published an article, book, poem, etc.
- Not having your child graduate from college
William Funk, a noted lexicographer and dictionary publisher, suggests that the bitterest word in the English language is the word, “alone.”
Thomas could not see how dissenting and difficult he was. He could not see the person he had become. He was not confused but bemused by the disciples’ testimony. The disciples’ confession “We have seen the Lord” was a powerful joint statement of faith, but Thomas was unimpressed. He also did not ask why the disciples’ mood had changed from doom and gloom to hope and optimism, their condition had changed from heartbreak to celebration, their group had changed from disintegration to harmony.
Previously, the disciples could do nothing but whine, moan and groan whenever they use the first person plural pronoun “we” to speak to Jesus. They complained to Jesus when He instructed them to feed the crowd: “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish.” (Matt 14:17) Another time Peter selfishly asked on the disciples’ behalf, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” (Matt 19:27) Now their attitude, mood and tone had changed.
Thomas was candid, but cynical and crass. His cynicism had reached a point of despair. Jesus had offered to show his hands and side to the disciples at his first appearance (Jn 20:20), but Thomas wanted more – much more, to be one up on others. The disciples were shaking their heads, gasping in disbelief and biting their tongue. He insisted on touching, feeling and examining His hands and side if he were to become a believer. He said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” In fact, he was no different from the people hometown folks Jesus excoriated with the same word: “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe,” (John 4:48).
Jesus did not expect blind faith from Thomas, but good faith from him. The problem with Thomas was not the absence of evidence, but the absence of faith. The truth is, no evidence is good enough for a doubter who had become a disparager and a detractor. The emphasis on plural “doors,” attested to the number of doors at stake, carefulness of the disciples and the integrity of the resurrection. In the end, Thomas was back to square one when he eventually declined Jesus’ invitation to his request – to reach out your hand and put it into my side. He should have asked for faith; he already had evidence. Note Thomas did not ask for God’s power, presence and even peace; he was just in a bad mood and in the opposition party.
C.S. Lewis, who once had serious doubts and questions concerning faith, but he wrote these words in his classic book Mere Christianity. “Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”
Unresolved Doubts Lead to Disobedience
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:26-28)
Bruce Larson tells the true story of a Catholic priest, a much-loved man of God who once carried a secret burden of long-past sin buried deep in his heart. He had committed that sin once, many years before during his time in the seminary. No one else knew of this sin. He had repented of it and he had suffered years of remorse for it, but still had no peace, no inner joy, no sense of God’s forgiveness.
There was a woman in this priest’s parish who deeply loved God, and who claimed to have visions in which she spoke to Christ, and He with her. The priest, however, was skeptical of her claims, so to test her visions he said to her, “You say you actually speak directly with Christ in your visions. Let me ask you a favor. The next time you have one of these visions, I want you to ask Him what sin your priest committed while he was in seminary.”
The woman agreed and went home. When she returned to the church a few days later, the priest said, “Well, did Christ visit you in your dreams?” She replied, “Yes, He did.”
“And did you ask Him what sin I committed in seminary?” “Yes, I asked Him.”
“Well, what did He say?” “He said, “I don’t remember.” (Illustrations Unlimited)
It’s been said that the six most important words in the English language are “I admit I make a mistake.”
I do not for one moment believe that Thomas had a chance to deny the Lord even though he talked tough. Note that readers do not know what he stated he would not believe – the resurrection or the disciples. He could not bring himself to reject Jesus’ resurrection, but he did not accept it for himself either. His words were so vague that it was hard to figure out what he did not believe. That was the essence of his doubt. However, Jesus did not volunteer himself for arrest, to die on the cross and to rise from the grave to visit Thomas a week later for nothing or in vain. He did it so that not one of the disciples is missing. Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane shortly before his crucifixion, “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.” (John 17:12) He spoke to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, “I have not lost one of those you gave me,” and He said to the advancing soldiers, “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” (John 18:8-9). He safeguarded the welfare of the 11 disciples when he was arrested but returned to strengthen them, so that they would experience soon the power of His resurrection, the transformation of their lives and the impact of the gospel upon the world.
Thomas was not a bad person, just a motor mouth, a free spirit and a loose canon. Jesus saw the theatrics and witnessed the drama, but also knew the audacity, the courage and potential in Thomas. Jesus did not choose him for an apostle for nothing. Thomas slipped on his own banana skin but he did not make a costly mistake; it was an error in judgment, and a major slip of the tongue. He stumbled but not failed. Thomas was out of line, but not out of hope. It was indefensible and inexcusable, but not unforgivable. There was no bitterness, malice or slander on his part. There is a big difference between unbelieving and doubting, between an unbeliever and a seeker, between persistence in unbelief and the suspension of belief - the latter being Thomas. Jesus rebuked him not for asking sight, but lacking insight;, not for seeking proof, but lacking faith; not for looking for an answer, but looking for a flaw.
Thomas made an uncharacteristic blunder. It was inconsistent of him, but his one mistake did not erase the good he had done. The good side of Thomas was not forgotten. In John 11:16 Thomas persuaded the disciples to follow Jesus, even if it meant death: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Besides, Thomas wasn’t the only one rebuked for not believing. Mark 16:14 uses the same word “believe” to records the disciples refusal to believe His resurrection: “Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to ‘believe’ those who had seen him after he had risen.” Thomas was not a pagan, a spy or a traitor. He was not Judas. By nature he liked to question things. In John 14:5 Thomas asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” In fact, Thomas’ redemption demonstrated what could have happened to a contrite Judas.
To further understand the story of Thomas, we must first contrast the stories of the three apostles before and after the resurrection. Judas rejected Christ, Thomas resisted Him and Peter received him. Judas killed himself because not only did he confess to the wrong people, he did not know about the power of the Christ’s resurrection. Simply put, the resurrection had not occurred yet when Judas hanged himself, but the resurrection had occurred when Thomas doubted, so he’d always had a chance.
Thomas had a lot of potential, too. No one understood the significance of Jesus’ resurrection like he did. Jesus had an ultimate purpose for visiting Thomas. Jesus chose to elicit from Thomas the most outstanding declaration of faith in Jesus’ resurrection. No one ever addressed Jesus as “My God” in the gospels except for Thomas. In fact, strange as it may seems, no one called Jesus “My Lord” and understood it, either. Thomas’ confession is the bulwark of faith even today.
Tradition has it that of all the apostles Thomas went to the remotest area to preach the gospel: India. In Kerala, India, a Christian community claims direct descent from Christians converted by the preaching of Thomas. The tradition among Christians in India is that Thomas was speared to death near Madras, and accordingly he is often pictured holding a spear, to signify the way he was put to death.
Conclusion: Some people make numerous mistakes in their life; some few mistakes; and some the same mistake. God forgives a contrite person, one who acknowledges his sin, asks for forgiveness and avoids repeating it. You may be the most vocal opponent of but God often makes strong and steadfast believers, advocates and witnesses of critics. Are you a doubter or a defender of the faith? The resurrection of Christ means that He can begin a new chapter in your life. “When I was young (seventeen), he was after pimples; now He’s after tumors.” Ronald Dunn 164, Wrestling with God , Keswick 1987 )
Are you walking by faith and not by sight? Do you walk the walk and talk the talk? Are you walking in the light or in the darkness?
Victor Yap
Other sermons in the series and other sermon series:
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