- What Will You Do With Jesus?-
Will You Doubt Him?
John 20:19-31
Introduction
If your faith has ever been shaken to the core, this text is for you! It was a turbulent time for the disciples’ faith. Jesus had been killed in a horrific way. The disciples had seen the empty tomb, but not Jesus. They are huddled inside a locked room, afraid for their lives. This is when Jesus comes and stands among them. This text reveals five things that Jesus came to give the baffled disciples as they encounter the risen Savior for the first time!
1. Jesus Came to Give Them Five Things (John 20:19-23)
*Peace (19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”).
Shalom – May God give you every good thing. This was most definitely not a peaceful time for them. We all need peace personally, family, the world around us. Remember that Jesus is the Prince of Peace! He understood their difficult situation and sought to bring peace.
*Joy (20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.). Once they realized that Jesus had really risen, they were filled with joy. Not only did they realize the One they loved was alive, they realized that his teachings were authoritative and true. Jesus’ presence in our life brings us joy, the overwhelming sense that all will be well, even when we are going through a storm.
*Mission (21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”). The work was to continue on - bringing the Kingdom to the lost world! In the other Gospels we have the Great Commission!
*Holy Spirit (22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”). God breathing life into the nostrils of Adam (Genesis 2:7). God calling upon the winds to breathe life into the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:9). God breathes new life into us when we are baptized and the Spirit comes to live within us (Acts 2:38).
*Message (23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.). Power to proclaim forgiveness was entrusted to Apostles. We have the message of grace and forgiveness to share with a lost world!
A Risen Jesus gave them / gives us Peace, Joy, Mission, Spirit, Message. … but somebody wasn’t in the room!
2. The Thing About Thomas (John 20:24-29)
Thomas has been called ‘doubting’ Thomas, which sells him short. What do we know about Thomas? (Mostly from John). Thomas was Willing to Die with Jesus. When they were going into enemy territory to raise Lazarus, “Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:16
Thomas Desired to Learn & Know the Truth, John 14:5-6 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Thomas Declared Jesus as Lord and God (John 20:24).
Thomas loved Jesus, no doubt. After the cross he faced his suffering and sorrow alone. He made the mistake of with-drawing from Christian fellowship. Thomas was a devoted and strong believer - but in the moment that all the others received confirmation of the resurrection, he was not there. This was a momentary situation that was resolved.We identify with Thomas here because all of us have had times of wondering, doubt, uncertainty, struggle. What can we see here that will help us make it through those times?
3. What To Remember When we Face our Own Doubts
Doubt Is The Normal Experience Of Every Believer (Tripp). No matter how theologically astute or biblically literate you are, you'll still have mysteries in your life. Between the 'already' and the 'not yet' there will be moments when God confuses you, when it seems like he isn't answering, and when he feels distant and uncaring. There will be moments when life doesn't make any sense! All of us will face situations like these believers when doubt, confusion and fear is more natural than confidence in God. The question is: what will you do with your doubt? Will you get mad and walk away from God, or in the pain of doubt will you cry out to God for help, exercising weak faith and little prayers?
God Doesn't Mock Weak Faith Or Little Prayers (Tripp). This little story preaches grace to us. God didn't ridicule the disciples gathered behind the locked door for their weak faith and little prayers. He came in and spoke PEACE to them! The Lord knows we're weak, and that why he has promised to be our strength.
Conclusion
This Gospel is written to cause its readers to reach the same conclusion as Thomas reached when he saw and touched Jesus.
John 20: 29-31 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
What will You Do with Jesus?
-Deny Him as did Peter?
-Dismiss Him as did Pilate?
-Dethrone Him as did the Jewish leaders?
-Desert Him as did the Disciples?
-Discern Him as did Mary?
-Doubt Him as did Thomas?
3. As we studied John’s Gospel we saw…
-Jesus demonstrate his power when he turned water to wine.
-Jesus turning over tables in prophetic act of passion and strength
-Jesus tenderly teaching Nicodemus to be born of water and spirit
-Jesus telling a woman at the well everything she had ever done
-Jesus healing a man who had been blind from birth
-Jesus raising up dead Lazarus from the grave
-Jesus powerfully humble, washing his disciples feet
-Jesus enduring trials, beatings, mockery, and crucifixion
-Jesus was buried for three days and then raised to life!
-Jesus standing alive before his disciples bringing them ‘peace’.
4. That’s the Jesus who is among us today. What will you do with Him? Neutral you cannot be. One day your heart will be asking, ‘What will he do with me?
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Video of this message will be available on our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/ForsytheChurchofChrist
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Discussion Questions for John 20:19-31
1. Upon his appearance after the resurrection, Jesus first speaks peace into the lives of the disciples. Share with the group some ways that Jesus brings peace and/or Joy into our lives.
2. Jesus sent the disciples out on the mission. Brainstorm some ways we can accomplish the mission of bringing the gospel to a lost and cynical world.
3. Why do you think Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus first came to them after the resurrection? In your view, was Thomas’ response to the news of resurrection unreasonable (20:24-25)? Why or why not?
4. As it turned out, did Thomas have to put his finger in Jesus’ wounds in order to believe (20:27-29)? Why is this
important?
5. What can we learn from Jesus’ encounter with Thomas about helping people who have doubts about the Christian message? What can we learn from this story about coping with our own struggles with belief?
6. John tells us why he has written his Gospel in vs. 30-31. Of all the “miraculous signs” John has included, which have been most convincing to you, and why?
7. Was there anything else you wanted to talk about in today’s message or text?
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Resources
Hedges-Goettl, Barb. Commentary.
https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/thomas-2/commentary-on-john-2019-31-17
Tripp, Paul. 6 Truths About Weak Faith and Little Prayers.
https://www.paultripp.com/articles/posts/6-truths-about-
weak-faith-and-little-prayers
