#12~THOMAS: APOSTLES 2-22-14
Today by the Lords help & grace we'll think on and talk for a few minutes about Apostle Thomas.
I'm sure most people have heard Thomas referred to as "doubting Thomas" , but I doubt that Thomas was any more doubtful than any of the others, the reason I think that is because of what we read in;
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> Mark 16: 9-14 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
~ Mary Magdalene was probably given the privilege of being first to witness the resurrected Christ because of her unreserved dedication.
10And she went and told them that had been with HIM, as they mourned and wept.
~ Four times in verses 11-14 we read of their unbelief, listen Mk.16:11-14
11And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. --- 12After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
~These two were Cleopas and another disciple as they were walking on the Emmaus road. -- Cleopas and his friend were so convinced that the risen Christ had been with them that they left right away and hurried to Jerusalem to tell the others. -- Luke 24:13--35
13And they went and told it unto the residue: [the 10, Thomas was not with them at this time, but would be 8 days later.] neither believed they them.
14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven [8 days later-(Jn 20:24--29) - as they sat at meat, and upbraided (severely rebuke) them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
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~ Thomas was also called "Didymus," which means "the twin." Apparently he had a twin brother or a twin sister, but his twin is never identified in Scriptures.
>John 11:16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
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~An old traditional saying is that the other twin was a sister called Lysia, but any remark that might be made about the twin, is all speculation because no place do we find it pinned down.
~ We simply believe the record we have and that is, that he was born a twin, and carried this name into the circle of the twelve.
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~ Thomas is mentioned only once in each of the three Gospels where the list of the Apostles is named, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. -- In each of these 3 gospels, he is found named with the other eleven apostles in a list. --- No details about him are given in these 3 gospels, let me remind us, that Johns gospel does not give a list of their names, but we learn everything we know about Thomas's character from John's Gospel. -- He is mentioned 8 times in John.
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>John 11:16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymium, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
>John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
>John 20:24 -29 -- 5 times.
>John 21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. -- The two other disciples probably are Andrew and Philip as their fishers as well.
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~Thomas is also named in the list of the Apostles waiting in the upper room in Acts1:13.
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As far as gospel history is concerned we know very little about the kinsmen of Thomas, or his place of residence, did he have a wife and family? -- we can not say with certainty --- We do know for certain that Thomas was a Jew, and in all probability was a Galilean.
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>Acts 1:10-11 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
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~ Thomas was devoted to Christ, he and John had much in common in their love for Christ. --- When we think about someone who loved Jesus and was close to Jesus we usually think of John, because it seems he was always near Jesus.
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But as we read the account in John 11: we'll see that Thomas was willing to die with Christ. -- Remember that Bethany was not very far from Jerusalem, and the Jews there had already made plans to kill Jesus the first opportunity they had, the disciples were afraid to go back at this time, they were afraid they would likewise be killed with Jesus, but Thomas was ready.
~ Thomas didn't want to live without Jesus. --- If Jesus was going to die, Thomas was prepared to die with Him.
>John 11:1-16 -- 1Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. --- 6When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. -- Jesus was giving Lazarus time to die, Jesus would be glorified when He raised him from the dead.
7Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again. --- 8His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
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~Jesus said, there are twelve hours in the day, and no one can change that fact, Because the Father has given the Son a work to do, nothing can stop Him. ~ God has given to each man a lifework, and we can't extend it a single day, any more than we can keep the sun from going down in the afternoon.
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11These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
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~ Thomas being Thomas could see nothing but the worst, he was sure that they would die, but he was willing to die if Jesus was to be stoned to death.
But let me remind us that Jesus knew His time was not at this time, His death was not left to the Jews to decide, it was all in the Fathers set time.
His death was to be on PASSOVER DAY, it was to be in the after-noon, He was the LAMB of God.
-- Thomas was an example to the rest of the apostles, because they did go with Jesus to Bethany. -- Thomas obviously had a deep devotion to Christ.
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~ I for one don't think that the bad name that's been handed him as "doubting Thomas" was right at all, he was a choice disciple, with a nobility and worth of character that some of the so called Bible scholars have not fairly recognized. His chief characteristic was that of a deep and devoted love ever ready to leave all for Christ, and even die with Christ. -- Thomas asks some sensible and good questioned.
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~There is a close connection between the events of John 13: & 14:
In chapter 13 the disciples had been rebuked for their lack of humility. They were instructed that Christ would soon leave them. --- They were told that one of their number would betray his Master, and Peter had been rebuked.
To offset the depression produced by what He had just said, Christ brought a message of hope and encouragement.
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>John 14:1- 6 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. -- 2In 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. --- 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
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~Listen as I read verse 5, Thomas ask a good question, one reason some students in school might be slow to learn is, they don't want to look dumb in front of the others in class, and probably many in the class want to know the answer as well, but just won't ask.
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5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
~ Overwhelmed with grief at the prospect of Christ's leaving, Thomas does not understand the meaning of Christ's statement. Thomas ask a question that would be helpful to people from then on, Thomas states that since he does not know where Christ is going, how could he possibly know the way to get there?
~Thomas wanted desperately to be with Jesus, and ask Jesus to tell them.
~The question of Thomas, "How can we know the way?" reveals him as a seeker after fuller truth,
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6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
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~ He was a man whose relationship with Christ was so strong that he never wanted to be away from Him.
~ His heart was broken as he heard Jesus speak of leaving them. -- The thought of Christ departure terrified Thomas. --- He had become so attached to Jesus in those years that he would have been glad to die with Him. -- We have to admire his devotion to Christ.
~ And his worst fears came to pass, Jesus was crucified, He's been gone 3 days now.
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After Jesus death, all the disciples were in deep sorrow, they were together in fear that they also might be in danger of being killed. -- They were all together except Thomas.
> John 20:19-29 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
~ Christ gave the disciple's authority to tell one and all that forgiveness of sins was possible, but only through Jesus Blood is a believers sins is washed away.
If we don't preach the gospel to the world, their sins can not be remitted.
>Rom.10:17 faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
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No man that's ever lived could or can forgive sins.
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24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. -- Now we know for sure that Thomas was a Baptist, he missed the meeting.
~But someone in the kind of mood Thomas was in was not going to be cheered up so easily. -- All he could see thus far was the bad side of things. - What set Thomas apart from the other ten was not that his doubt was greater, but that his sorrow was greater, there are a lot of folks that have a loved one to die that stay home for a few days, perhaps this was Thomas's case, we don't know.
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25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands 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. This very verse has brought on Thomas, the name "doubting Thomas"
26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
~ No one could feel the way Thomas felt unless he loved Jesus the way Thomas loved Him, so Jesus was not hard on him. -- He looked right at Thomas and said;
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27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. ***
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~ The strongest traditions say he was martyred for his faith by being run through with a spear-- a fitting form of martyrdom for one whose faith came of age
when he saw the spear wound in his Master's side, and for one who longed to be reunited with his Lord. -- Tradition tells us that he was a missionary in India and was establishing a church there when he was stabbed with a spear and died from the wound.
There are so few historical facts that are available beyond this account that no one can add much to this and do so with absolute certainty.
