THOMAS: A DISCIPLE UNDER PRESSURE
JOHN 11:1-16
#ApostleThomas
INTRODUCTION… Known for one thing
Some people are known for one thing. We sometimes call that “a one shot wonder” or a signature or a trademark. We can also use the phrase “one trick pony” or notorious. Some people are known for one thing.
* Vanilla Ice is known for “Ice Ice Baby”
* Macaulay Culkin is known for “Home Alone”
* William Hung has an infamous American Idol audition
* Buster Douglas beat Mike Tyson
* Tonya Harding is known for attacking Nancy Kerrigan
* Gary Dahl created the pet rock
* Colonel Sanders is known for fried chicken
Some people are known for one thing even in the Bible:
* Noah built an ark
* Abel got killed
* Lot’s wife looked back
* Balaam is known for having a talking donkey
* Judas Iscariot is a betrayer
* Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross
* Stephen was the first Christian martyr
Many times, the lives of people in the Bible are there so that we can learn from them. We may learn what TO DO as we emulate them or we may learn WHAT NOT TO DO as we learn a lesson from them.
Today we are starting a three-week series on the Apostle Thomas. Most of the time all we know about Thomas is that he was an apostle of Jesus that doubted. “Doubting Thomas” is famous for one thing and one thing only. I think there is more to him than that. I know there is more to him than that! I hope! This three-week series is going to focus on the three passages in which we find the Apostle Thomas speaking.
John 11:1-17 (today)
John 14:1-7 (next week)
John 20:24-29 (in two weeks)
TRANSITION
Before we dig into John 11, we need to know that there is intense pressure around Jesus and we need to know where the pressure comes from. By pressure I mean physical stress, emotional turmoil, and most likely spiritual warfare. By pressure, I mean societal pressure to hush and sit down. Where does this pressure come from?
THE PRESSURE
The pressure that Thomas and the other disciples are feeling are book ends of John 11. Context is always important in the Bible. The miracle that Jesus performs in John 11 comes at a time of high tension and He does it at great personal risk. What is the pressure filled context?
In John 10, we are told that Jesus is continuing to stir up dissension and not everyone wants to hear what He has to say. Times of teaching are getting heated and violent.
READ JOHN 10:19-21 (ESV)
“There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to Him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of One who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
If You are the Son of God, crowds calling you “a demon” or “insane” is going to cause some stress for those who believe in You. If I were Jesus (and I ain’t!), I might be discouraged that I have been ministering, teaching, healing, and performing miracles resulting in people defining me as “evil.” I would be discouraged at most and perplexed at the least.
Jesus continues to teach and preach and share that He is the Son of God. He continues amid the pressure to share the message that God the Father gave Him. It is a message that resonates well with some and not so much with others.
A little bit later in the same chapter…
READ JOHN 10:31 (ESV)
“The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him.”
A little bit later in the same chapter…
READ JOHN 10:39-40 (ESV)
“Again they sought to arrest Him, but He escaped from their hands. 40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there He remained.”
Those are the types of things happening before we read about Lazarus being raised from the dead. Jesus’ popularity with some folks is on the rise and His unpopularity with others continues to decline. How do we know this? Immediately after Jesus brings Lazarus back from the dead we read…
READ JOHN 11:47-57 (ESV)
“So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this Man performs many signs. 48 If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that One Man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put Him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there He stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That He will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest Him.”
The pressure that Thomas and the other disciples are feeling is very real:
#1 There is division. There is disagreement or conflict among people; in this context, differing opinions about Jesus' identity and authority.
#2 There are accusations by some that Jesus is under demonic influence or mentally unstable.
#3 There is at least one attempt at the act of stoning, a method of execution under Jewish law for blasphemy.
#4 Several times the word “arrest” is used which means some want to capture Jesus.
#5 The religious leaders, the Sanhedrin, is involved and dislike Jesus’ influence.
#6 The High Priest Caiaphas prophesied Jesus’ death as a solution to preserve the nation.
#7 The plan was to execute Jesus.
#8 There are public directives from religious authorities to report Jesus’ location.
Overall, the mood is tense, conflicted, and foreboding. There are moments of division, fear, and growing hostility:
#1 Everything is tense. John 10-11 is full of social and religious conflict, especially surrounding Jesus' actions and claims.
#2 Everything is conflicted. John 10-11 shows disagreement among the people about Jesus. Some view Jesus as mad or possessed, others see divine power in Him.
#3 Everything feels threatening. Authorities plan His arrest and execution, showing political anxiety and fear of Roman reprisal and harsher treatment.
#4 Everything is foreboding. I like that word. Foreboding. The movement toward Jesus’ death is intensifying. The whole mood of John 10-11 anticipates the betrayal of Jesus and His eventual sacrifice.
#5 Everything also feels urgent. The religious leaders’ deliberation, the search for Jesus, and the looming Passover create a feeling of urgency and crisis.
The umbrella word for all of this is: pressure.
In the middle of all of this the disciples feel the pressure. We know they feel the pressure because of what Thomas says! Doubting is not the only thing Thomas should be known for because in John 11 he expresses himself well all the while feeling great pressure.
TRANSITION
Let’s read from John 11 and begin to look at the Apostle Thomas and his statement. I personally think that doubting Thomas makes a significant statement of faith all the while there is great pressure around him and the other disciples of Jesus.
READ JOHN 11:1-16 (ESV)
“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, he whom You love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it He said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After saying these things, He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
John 11 is a chapter known primarily for Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. That is absolutely what this chapter is all about. John 11 is one of those chapters in the Bible in which the more I read it the more I learn. The passages about Lazarus and Mary and Martha are deep. There is so much in John 11 about death, life, the meaning of life, trust in Jesus, disappointment with God, the humanity of Jesus, patience, and so much more. The central event is the death and rising of Lazarus.
But before the miracle, there’s a powerful moment of raw courage and devotion from a disciple is ignored because we think of him only as “doubting Thomas.” In verse 16, Thomas says, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” That phrase has nothing to do with doubt. This is more than just a side comment, but is a window into a disciple under pressure. Verse 16 is huge!
Verse 16 is huge because there is so much pressure happening around Thomas and the other disciples that Thomas assumes that if they all go to Bethany that Jesus and they will be killed. There is no doubt (pun intended) in Thomas’ mind that when they arrive in the area of Bethany, which is not far from Jerusalem, that death will happen. He accepts it. He tries to encourage the other disciples who are feeling the same reality. In verse 16, Thomas says, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” That is a disciple under pressure who responds with faith.
TRANSITION
I believe we can learn from Thomas under pressure about faith. I think we learn from Thomas life changing truths about faith. If you have checked out, please check back in. What Thomas teaches us with his ten words is astounding.
APPLICATION
First, we learn that faith isn’t always without fear, buy moves forward anyway. Thomas isn’t making a bold declaration like Peter does elsewhere, but he is being honest. The disciples know that returning to the area around Jerusalem is dangerous for Jesus. They know it is dangerous for them. They are about to walk into enemy territory where the end result will be arrest and death.
Thomas isn’t saying: “We’ll be fine.”
Thomas isn’t saying: “There are no issues.”
Thomas isn’t saying: “Jesus will perform a miracle and get us out of this.”
Thomas said: “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
Thomas is saying: “We’ll probably die, but let’s go.”
Thomas is saying: “I have no doubt this will go poorly, but we will go anyway.”
Thomas is saying: “I follow Jesus wherever He goes.”
That is real faith! Faith is not always confident sounding. Faith is not always victorious-sounding. Sometimes faith is keeping our eyes on the back of Jesus’ head as we follow in His footsteps. Who am I kidding? That is always faith! Faith is always following Jesus. Being a believer in Jesus isn’t the absence of fear or questions or issues, but it is the presence of obedience to Christ despite it. Thomas shows us this truth.
READ 1 PETER 2:21 (ESV)
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.”
Secondly, we learn that faith in Jesus can be costly and that’s the point. Believing loyalty in Jesus Christ is not automatically an easy road with no risk or no burdens. Thomas’ ten words anticipates hardship, trial, issues, burdens, and struggles. Thomas’ ten words show us a kind of loyalty that anticipates the cross which Jesus will eventually submit unto. Jesus had not yet died, but Thomas was already grasping what many others missed: following Jesus might cost us everything. Thomas is willing to go where Jesus goes, even if it means his death. This is the kind of loyalty Christ calls us to.
That is real faith! Faith in Christ does not mean we have an automatic easy life or that we pray to Jesus and hardships magically go away. Discomfort still exists. Difficulty still will come. It might even be dangerous or life threatening. Yet, Jesus will show us the way. Faith in Jesus is the way!
READ MATTHEW 16:24 (ESV)
“Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Last, we also learn that God honors honest devotion. God looks for faith in Him that is real. God looks for loyalty that is not fickle. Thomas is all the time remembered as “doubting Thomas,” but here he should be called “devoted Thomas.” Thomas is honest about his faith. Thomas is honest with devotion to follow Jesus into danger. And what does Jesus do? Jesus doesn’t say that Thomas is overacting or wrong or silly, but lets all of His disciples accompany Him south to Bethany. In the end, Thomas is among those who will witness the power of resurrection.
A great picture of this type of devotion comes from the Apostle Paul who loved to represent the Church as the bride of Christ (see Romans 7, Ephesians 5). In 2 Corinthians 2 Paul says that the Church in Corinth should be fully devoted to God as a virgin bride devoted to her new husband. Paul was encouraging the Corinthians towards pure devotion. The Apostle Paul pictures a relationship with Jesus that is deep and rich with sincere and pure devotion. He reminds the Corinthians and us that we have an enemy who wants to lead us astray from honest devotion to God.
READ MATTHEW 22:37-38 (ESV)
“And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.”
CONCLUSION
I feel like Thomas gets a bad rap sometimes. Thomas was in a situation where he did not understand everything, but understood enough to know that his life and the life of his Teacher was in danger. He knew arrest was likely. He knew mistreatment was possible. He knew death was assured. Remember, the overall word that described what Thomas was dealing with was: pressure.
Like Thomas, we may not understand everything going on in our lives, but we feel pressure. Division. Disagreement. Conflict. Accusations. Mental health issues. Everything is tense. Everything is conflicted. Everything feels threatening. Everything is foreboding. The umbrella word for all of this is: pressure.
Pressure can come because of financial issues. Health trials with cancer, arthritis, and surgeries make days feel uncertain. Relationship issues with our grandkids make family times hard. A boss who mistreats us makes us dread work. A legal issue not of our own making brings stress. Most of the time life is unfair and can be overwhelming.
May we face life in the same way as Thomas:
“I will follow Jesus wherever He goes.”
“I will place my trust in the plan God has for us.”
“I will walk in faith with Jesus trusting that He walks with me.”
“I will be faithful even when it is hard.”
PRAYER
INVITATION
Coming to faith in Christ means that we deny the sinful side of ourselves and we accept what Jesus has done for us. This is a decision we make. The offer is always on the table. Jesus offers. We answer.
RE-READ MATTHEW 16:24 (ESV)
“Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”
