I Thomas
John 20:19-29
Stop reading at v27a- Before you tell them what Jesus said to me, let me introduce myself and share with a little background to this; the one thing I seem to be remembered for. My name is Thomas I was born and raised in the area of Galilee. A Hebrew by birth and an avid follower of El-Elohe- Israel - The God of Israel - I was still in my middle years when Jesus began preaching in Galilee. I saw in Him at once a hope for which I had long searched. Was this man the Messiah I had so long looked for the one prophesied sent from God who would come and be salvation for His people. My friends called me crazy when I left my work and my family to follow Him.
I joined Jesus early in His ministry in Galilee and was numbered among the Twelve who followed Him most closely. Little did I know when I began to follow Him the wonderful and terrible things that I would witness. You read now about the feeding of the 5,000- I was there - I saw the 5 loaves and 2 fish in the little boys lunch basket. I heard Jesus as He blessed the food and I watched as a little boys lunch was transformed into food for an army in the hands of Jesus.
I saw Him work wonderful miracles - the blind could see, the lamb walk, even one woman was healed by simply touching the hem of his prayer shawl. I was with Him in Bethany when He spoke but a word and Lazarus our friend who had been dead for 4 days walked alive out of his tomb.
I was one of the twelve commissioned and empowered by Him to preach the message of repentance- to cast out demons and heal the sick. We left with only the clothes on our backs to be His emissaries to the world.
Then came that fateful week. We knew that something was going to happen. Jesus was headed for Jerusalem. I knew that the time had come. He would proclaim Himself Messiah and lead us to Salvation and deliverance from all our oppressors.
People lined the roads to Jerusalem that day- Shouting out His praises and declaring His Kingship. They laid palm branches in the road -I laid this very tunic on the colt that He was riding. I wear it still to remind me of Him. I remember the Temple when Jesus cleared the Court of the Gentiles driving out the money-changers. I remember the His teaching on the Mount of Olives, I remember his words to us as we celebrated the Passover together. I didn’t understand what He meant when He said This is my Body and This is my blood. I wouldn’t understand it until later. I remember as we left the Upper Room I had a sense of foreboding about that night but nothing in my wildest nightmares prepared me for what was about to happen.
Jesus wanted us to pray with Him as we got to the Garden - He bid us wait and took Peter James and John on a little ways to a quiet place to pray. That is all I knew until suddenly I was jolted awake by the sounds of a mob. I stood to run and warn Him but He walked right up to us. The hour has come He said - behold the son of man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. As they came I recognized Judas leading the group. Judas who had been one of us. He came to Jesus and kissed Him - the foul kiss of betrayal. And Jesus went with them. When they seized Him - I didn’t know what to do- I ran- I ran as fast as I could and I didn’t stop running until I fell on my face. Then the real nightmare began. They held a mock trial- they carried Him before Pilate- Crucify Him the people shouted- What were they saying - these people who had just shouted King- Now they shouted for the murderer Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be crucified.
I watched - silently- fearfully - I once had been willing to die for Him in Bethany - now I couldn’t make my quivering mouth say a word.
The next time I saw Him - the one I had followed as Lord- the one who I knew would be King- He walked out of the Praetorium - a grotesque bloody mockery of Himself. He had been beaten and bloodied by the whips of the Romans- He wore a crown of thorns pressed down into his head. His ruined body could hardly carry the weight of the cross. I watched Him fall under the weight of it- I longed to run to His side, to help Him, anything. But it was as if my feet were rooted in stone.
As the crowd passed by I followed them to Golgotha - That horrid place of death-
And I watched as they Crucified Him. A Thief on each side- I could not believe it was happening. Darkness covered the land. Someone wake me up I can’t stand to see anymore. Then I heard His voice-
Father He said - forgive them - Forgive them No don’t forgive them- look what they have done. Look what they have done to your servant. Look what they have done to my dreams. Destroy them don’t forgive them my heart cried. I wept at the foot of His cross until He said It is finished. And he died. And my heart broke. And my dreams died. And my future was hopeless.
I couldn’t go to the Temple for Sabbath, I couldn’t bear to even see the other disciples. I buried myself in despair. Peter found me on Sunday- I thought Him a fool- gone mad from grief- He told me that he had seen Jesus Alive and well and that all the others had seen Him too. No I said - not again- go away with your madness, go away with your false hope I have no hope left - I will not believe you - I cannot believe you not unless I should see Him with my own eyes and place my finger in prints of the nails and place my hand in the spear mark in His side. No Peter I will not believe.
Peter persuaded me to at least rejoin the company of the disciples and I did. Not because I believed them but because at least I found comfort in their presence. Then it happened- The following Sunday- As we sat together in a locked room.
I saw Him - I rubbed my tired eyes but He did not vanish. Standing there in front of me was Jesus. Alive- Peace be with you He said to us all. Then He turned to me.
His face no longer the gruesome mask of death that I had last seen - Now it was the radiant face of life. He stretched out His hands - Reach here your finger Thomas - see My hands - Reach here your hand and put it into my side Thomas- He said. He knew my words- He knew my doubt- My unbelief - Yet here He stood beckoning to me.
My broken heart - so full of doubt, and fear- so despairing from all that I had seen, - found its healing in the face of Jesus- My legs would not support me I fell on my knees and cried out the only words I knew - MY LORD and MY GOD.
In a rush of understanding it all became clear. The Prophecies fulfilled, The Messiah of God - Crucified, Dead, Buried, But Risen again on the third day. Suddenly all that Jesus had told us made sense - Behold the Lamb of God- Who takes away the sin of the world.
This morning I want to leave you with a couple of thoughts-
1) I spent most of my life looking for a Messiah- a Savior - something or someone that would make me truly happy, truly fulfilled- I tried it all but found it only in Jesus. Maybe you have been looking for something to make you happy. You will find it in Jesus
2) I spent 3 years of my life following one I hoped would be Messiah- I had hope but I could not see who He really was because He didn’t fit into what I wanted him to be. I had an idea of what a Savior ought to look like- maybe you’ve been fooled because life isn’t all that you expected. Maybe Christ doesn’t fit your lifestyle- One day your religion will come up empty- Jesus is here to establish with you a relationship that will last for all eternity.
3) I will live out the rest of my years following one that I know is Messiah- One who goes beyond my wildest dreams or imaginings, One who makes Eternity more than a hope He makes it a reality.
When your last breath is breathed do you know where you will be for eternity.
I don’t know - Today is your day to settle that question
I hope so - friend you can know so today
My name is Thomas I was born and raised in the area of Galilee.
A Hebrew by birth and an avid follower of El-Elohe- Israel -
I was still in my middle years
My friends called me crazy when .
was numbered among the Twelve
feeding of the 5,000-
I saw Him work wonderful miracles
Lazarus
I was one of the twelve commissioned
Then came that fateful week.
People lined the roads to Jerusalem that day-
Garden -
- behold the son of man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
watched - silently- fearfully - I once had been willing to die for Him in Bethany - now I couldn’t make my quivering mouth say a word.
The next time I saw Him - He walked out of the Praetorium -
a grotesque bloody mockery of Himself.
His ruined body could hardly carry the weight of the cross.
Golgotha - That horrid place of death-
Father He said - forgive them - Forgive them No
He said It is finished. And he died. And my heart broke.
And my dreams died. And my future was hopeless.
I couldn’t go to the Temple for Sabbath,
Peter found me on Sunday- I thought Him a fool- gone mad from grief-
The following Sunday- As we sat together in a locked room.
I saw Him -
no longer the gruesome mask of death that I had last seen -
Now it was the radiant face of life.
My broken heart - so full of doubt, and fear-
MY LORD and MY GOD.
In a rush of understanding it all became clear.
Behold the Lamb of God- Who takes away the sin of the world.
1) I spent most of my life looking for a Messiah-
2) I spent 3 years of my life following one I hoped would be Messiah-
3) I will live out the rest of my years following one that I know is Messiah-
When your last breath is breathed do you know where you will be for eternity.
I don’t know - Today is your day to settle that question
I hope so - friend you can know so today
