INTRODUCTION: JOHN 20:24-29
What do we know about Thomas? Thomas was the 7th apostle called, and he had a twin brother, and served under Philip (Matt.10:3), managing the organization and administration of Jesus’ ministry. He was a detail man.
Doubting Jesus. What will Thomas always be remembered for? "But he (Thomas) 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’" (John 20:25).
A pattern. Was this the first time Thomas doubted? "Then said Thomas . . . ‘let us also go, that we may die with Him’" (John 11:16).
Their awful unbelief,
That makes them doubt:
Comes from their nature,
Bringing doubt about.
Family background. Is there any clue why he may have doubted? Twice, Thomas is mentioned as a twin. (John 11:16, 20:24). Perhaps he was always compared to his twin brother who was better.
WHAT MAKES US DOUBT?
Circumstances. "Thomas . . . was not with them when Jesus came" (John 20:24).
Comparison to others. "The other disciples therefore said unto him, we have seen the Lord" (John 20:25).
Family background. "Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymas" (John 20:24).
Others constantly called him twin.
He could not forget his brother.
Unattainable experience of others. "They saw (eidon, to examine) the Lord" (John 20:20). "We have seen (Horao, understood) the Lord" (20:25). They bragged about examining the wounds, now they claimed superior understanding and attainment.
Not praying. "He said unto them (all 11), pray that ye enter not into temptation. And He (Jesus) was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw" (Luke 22:40, 41). "When He arose from prayer . . . He found them sleeping" (Luke 22:45).
Not walking with Jesus. "Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled" (Matt. 26:56).
Fear of others. "Then the same day at evening . . . when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews" (John 20:19).
Fear of rejection. "If the world hates you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you" (John 15:18).
Fear of ridicule. "When men shall revile you" (Matt. 5:11).
Fear of persecution. "If they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you" (John 15:20).
Choice. What is the primary source of doubt? Usually, doubt does not begin in our minds or our feelings, but we chose to doubt. "Except I shall . . . thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25)
HOW DOUBTS ARE OVERCOME
1. Your doubts are never completely eliminated. What should be our constant attitude about our doubts? "Their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen" (Mark 16:14). Three weeks later, "When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted" (Matt. 27:17).
2. Gather with believers. Where shall we go? "After eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them" (John 20:26).
Be where Jesus is. Is there a special place where we can overcome doubt? "Thomas was with them, then came Jesus, the doors being shut" (John 20:26).
Listen to the words of Jesus. "Then came Jesus . . . and stood in the midst and said, ‘Peace be unto you’" (John 20:26).
Open yourself to His instructions. "Then saith He to Thomas, reach hither thy finger and behold My hands" (John 20:27).
There are places that will not help overcome your doubts.
Outside church. Jesus didn’t appear to Thomas when he didn’t gather.
Sinful place. The prodigal son had to come to himself and returned home. Will Jesus come to lustful places?
Deal with the point of unbelief. Can anything I do break my doubt? Probably not when we don’t deal with the problem. God brings us back to our point of unbelief. "Unless, I shall . . . put my finger into the print of the nails" (John 20:25). "Reach hither thy finger and behold My hands" (John 20:27).
Act upon the words of Jesus. What is needed to break my doubt? Doubt is not broken by intellectual knowledge of the Bible, or emotional stirring, but you must rationally choose and act. "Reach hither thy finger and, behold My hands" (John 20:27).
You can overcome doubts. Does the Lord expect you to overcome doubt? "Be not faithless, but believing" (John 20:27). Notice belief is not a perfect state, but a continual walking with Jesus.
Spiritual insight. What does Jesus give you to restore you? "Jesus saith unto him, ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen (Horao, understood) Me, thou has believed’" (John 20:29). Thomas didn’t have to examine to overcome his doubts; He had to acknowledge Jesus.
Worshipped at Jesus feet. If Thomas didn’t examine the wounds, what did he do? "Thomas answered and said unto him, ‘My Lord and my God’" (John 20:28).
The highest confession of Jesus deity. What grew out of Thomas’ doubt? "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Two highest words for deity in Old Testament.
Believe in the Son of God and live. Why was this story of doubt included in the Scriptures? "But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through His name" (John 20:31).
To get Dr. Towns’ Home Page for books, www.elmertowns.com.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at eltowns@liberty.edu and tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
