Are we like Thomas? John 20:19-24
Good morning.
Stand with me and lift your bible and repeat after me.
This is my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I can do what it says I can do.
I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.
Today I will learn more of the word of God.
The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.
I will never be the same.
I will never be the same.
In Jesus Name
Amen?
Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.
Here is the question for you today.
Who was Thomas in the Bible?
Thomas was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ.
In the Bible, Thomas was also called Didymus in John 11:16; 20:24, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew title Thomas, both meaning “twin.”
In the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—Thomas is mentioned only in the listings of the apostles (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15). In the Gospel of John, Thomas is one of the main characters in two important stories.
We discover from the story of Thomas that he was sincerely pledged to His master, and yet he fought with uncertainties and questions.
On the day of His resurrection, Jesus appeared to a group of His disciples.
Thomas was not with them for this notable event (John 20:19–24).
After Jesus was with them, the disciples later explained to Thomas what they had witnessed the resurrected Lord, he answered, “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” (John 20:25). With those memorable words, Thomas acquired a nickname that he would be identified by throughout history: Doubting Thomas.
Thomas was a doubter, and he probably was like you, and I are at times during our lives. We pray and pray and wonder if what we are doing works.
Let us go to the Book of John. Turn with me now to John Chapter 20 and say, “Amen” when you are there.
Let’s read together.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked in fear of the Jewish leaders, 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’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 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.”
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!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
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.
Thomas was now sure of who Jesus was and experienced overcoming doubt about his own faith.
As we walk through our life day by day, we have times when we will have doubts about each of the things that occur.
We will have to believe that what is happening will be for a purpose that only God may know at the time they occur.
Our future, whether it is happening the way we want or not, is a constant walk of faith.
But as we are able to get through each day, our doubts start to subside and we walk with more confidence and get stronger so that when the trials and tribulations that occur with our daily lives occur, we can handle them easier.
I saw this recently in a letter that someone was sharing to someone who is behind bars in prison:
“P.S. Repeat after me.......I am confident. I am worthy of good things. I am proud of who I am becoming.”
I don’t know about you, but I am proud that I have overcome my doubts more often and like Thomas, I have gotten to be very strong in my faith.
As the daily things in life come along, we can be able to handle them without doubt, without fear, and with the strength that the Lord provides for those who believe.
Our strength in our faith allows us to move forward to serve others and make our lives an example of our faith in Jesus Christ.
Juan Carlos Oritz in his book, “Disciple”, stated on the front cover, “Jesus did not say, “How would you like to go?” No. He commanded, and they did. That is how disciples are made.”
We have become believers and now who need to look at what our calling in life is.
It is to walk in faith serving as a disciple by no longer doubting all of the time, but to walk in faith with confidence. We do not have to go out and serve as the disciples did that walked with Jesus, but we can be like them by sharing each of the gifts that we have been given to use in this life.
You have many things that you can share about life that are a part of being a disciple.
Your life experience is the biggest one. You can share how you have been like Thomas, doubting things that have come up in your life.
You also can share testimonies about how, like Thomas, you have seen the Lord get you through life to get you where you are now in your faith.
Life can be hard sometimes but walking with Jesus through it makes it bearable.
Thomas saw that Jesus was who He said He was and experienced being able to overcome his doubts and growing in his faith because of that.
You may need to grow in your faith today.
Or, you may also need to experience having faith in someone you have not seen but have been hearing about today.
Jesus can guide you through life’s trials and give you comfort knowing that life can be different in a true relationship with Him.
If you would like to make a change and stop being a “doubting Thomas” all of the time. If you would like to have a new life from this moment on in a true relationship with God through His son, Jesus Christ, let us talk to Him right now.
Please close your eyes and bow your head right now. If you would like to make a true commitment to allow God through Jesus Christ to make you a new person and allow you to have faith beyond that of a mustard seed, raise your hand right now.
Say this prayer with me and mean it.
“Lord, I am in need of seeing you in my life right now and forever.
Please accept me as I am and forgive me for all that I have done wrong in my life and make me new from this moment forward.
I know now that you sacrificed your son for me. Jesus died on the cross for my sins and the sins of others.
I now ask that you Jesus, make me new from this moment forward and allow me to walk in faith for my days ahead here on earth until I leave to be with you in everlasting life in heaven. Amen!”
