Sunday, April 18, 2004
Title: Doubting Thomas: A look at the Other Disciples
Text: John 20:24-29
Introduction
1. Today is one week after the resurrection.
• As we study God’s Word, we see many exciting things happening following the resurrection…
• There are multiple times when Christ appeared unto different people…
• And each one of these events would certainly be worthy of study.
• But there is one in particular, that I would like to focus on today.
2. On the day that Jesus rose again, He appeared unto the disciples…
• But Thomas wasn’t with them…
• Much has been made of Thomas’ absence…
• Perhaps he felt too grief-stricken to be with the others…
• Perhaps his faith had ebbed away and didn’t want to join with the others…
• We can surmise all we want, but Scripture doesn’t tell us…
• And as a result, he made that great profession of doubt that has followed him for 2,000 years…
• And still today, we refer to him as “doubting Thomas”…
• How would you like to be remembered 2,000 years after your life with some less than complimentary description of your character attached to your name?
• I’m not so sure we’ve been entirely fair with Thomas.
3. In any event, he wasn’t there…
• And he missed out on an incredible blessing…
• However, 1 week after the resurrection…
• Which coincides with our worship service today…
• Jesus came again…
• Only this time, Thomas was there…
• And Thomas makes a great profession of faith.
4. This is a very common story…
• And it is certainly commonly told 1 week after Easter…
• In fact, I have shared with you from this text in the past during the Easter season…
• However, today, I’d like us to look at it a little bit differently…
• The wonderful thing about God’s Word is that it is always fresh…
• Always new…
• Always full of more richness for us to allow to further enrich our lives…
• Today, I’d like us to look at this passage of Scripture…
• NOT from Thomas’ standpoint…
• But from the standpoint of the other disciples.
• Let’s stand together as we read God’s Word.
Text: John 20:24-29
Body
1. First of all, I want you to see that they Noticed that Thomas Wasn’t with Them
A. Thomas had spent 3 years with them…
• They enjoyed meals together…
• They enjoyed sitting at the feet of Jesus together…
• They enjoyed worshipping in the Temple together…
• They had participated in ministry together…
B. But then something incredible happened…
• Jesus rose from the dead…
• It seemed to good to be true…
• But that’s what the Mary’s had told them…
• And even still, they were afraid that what had happened to Jesus would happen to them as well…
• So they were meeting together on Sunday,
• Behind locked doors….
• And all of a sudden, Jesus appeared…
• In spite of the locked doors…
• He spoke to them…
• He showed them the marks in His hands and His side…
• Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”…
• Wow!
• What an incredible boost to their faith!
• What a wonderful visitation of the Lord upon their meeting!...
• But, like we have already pointed out…
• For whatever reason, Thomas wasn’t there.
C. I suppose they could have just enjoyed the wonderful blessing that they had received…
• And forgotten all about Thomas…
• But that’s not what happened…
• Our Scripture implies that they were certainly aware that Thomas wasn’t there.
• So they sought him out.
D. I see a message for us in this.
• Sometimes we have people that have been with us for months; or even years…
• They have joined with us in worship…
• They have shared meals together with us…
• They had ministered together with us…
• But for some reason, they’ve missed out on something recently…
• Maybe they are hurting…
• Maybe they are grieving…
• Maybe they are losing the faith…
• But my question is…Do we notice when those people aren’t here?
• Are we are aware when they have missed out on something special?
• And if so, what do we do?
• Do we just go on about our business…
• Thinking to ourselves… “well, it’s their loss”…
• Or do we actually do something about it like those early disciples did.
2. Secondly, I want you to notice that the disciples Witnessed to Thomas about Their Personal Experience with the Lord
A. Our text indicates that after the disciples sought out Thomas…
• They told him, “we have seen the Lord!”
• Wow! What a witness!
• What a powerful testimony!
• I’m sure that Thomas was overwhelmed by their enthusiasm…
• And just decided then and there that he was going to believe…
• Well, we know that that is NOT what happened…
• Because it was then that Thomas expressed the doubt that has dogged him for 2,000 years.
B. It is my hope that we can be like those disciples…
• And faithfully carry our testimony to those who are hurting…
• To those who are grieving…
• To those who, for whatever reason…
• are missing from our worship together…
• It is my hope that we can carry that very same testimony…
• “we have seen the Lord”…
• We were all gathered together for worship…
• And the Lord showed up…
• And His presence was so very real…
• And the breathe of His Holy Spirit blew throughout the sanctuary!
• What a testimony!
• What a blessing that we have to share with others!
• You’d think that they would just stop what they are doing…
• And respond to the power of our testimony…
• But don’t be surprised if doubts remain…
• Don’t be surprised if their pain is so great that they just feel that they have to experience it for themselves…
3. Because the 3rd thing that I want you to notice…those disciples didn’t let Thomas’ doubts interfere in their relationship with Him.
A. It would have been so easy for Peter to say…
• Fine Thomas…if you want to be that way…
• I just will go on to more fertile soil…
• I will spend my time and efforts on people who are more responsive.
• But that isn’t what happened…
• Because our Scripture tells us that
• “a week later, his disciples were in the house again…
• AND THOMAS WAS WITH THEM”
• So the disciples didn’t cut the cord…
• They didn’t shun him…
• They didn’t leave him to his own just desserts…
• He was welcomed into their small congregation…
• Doubts and all!
B. This is another beautiful lesson for us…
• Not everyone who is here this morning has the same level of faith…
• Perhaps there are some of you that have all the faith in the world…
• Your relationship with Jesus is chugging along wonderfully…
• But perhaps there are others here this morning…
• And you are hurting…
• You have doubts…
• You have worries…
• I want you to know that I’m glad you are here…
• What better place for the hurting…
• Than right here with us!
C. If those who are hurting…
• And those who are doubtful…
• Feel our love and our support…
• In spite of their doubts…
• And they still feel comfortable joining with us in worship…
• Then I am convinced that they are in the perfect place to experience a mighty out-pouring of the Holy Spirit…
• Jesus Christ will show up right here…
• And He will breathe upon us the breathe of His Holy Spirit…
• And in an instant…
• All the doubts will be washed away…
• All the pain will be washed away…
• All the questions will be washed away…
• Praise the Lord!!!
Conclusion
1. I know that it can happen just like that…
• There was a time in my life when I was hurting…
• I felt like giving up…
• I was doubting…
• And certainly, my family and friends in the church could have just left me to rot…
• But they were faithful…
• Reaching out to me…
• Making me feel comfortable being with them…
• Even though I wasn’t where I should be spiritually…
• And it was precisely in that kind of environment …
• That the Holy Spirit used to wipe out all my pain and anger and doubt in an instant.
2. So, let me ask you…
• What would have happened to Thomas if those other disciples:
• Didn’t notice that he wasn’t there?
• What would have happened to Thomas if those other disciples didn’t go out of their way to share their own personal experience with Jesus with him?
• What would have happened if they allowed Thomas’ doubts to come between them…
• So that Thomas didn’t feel comfortable being with them?
3. We can’t know for sure…
• But if those things had happened…
• I seriously doubt that John chapter 20:28 would have appeared in our Bible…
• Thomas said to Jesus…”My Lord and my God”!
4. This morning, I recognize that there might be some Thomas’ here…
• You are hurting…
• Doubtful…
• Questioning…
• I want you to know that you are welcome here…
• Your questions are welcome here…
• Your pain is welcome here…
• We want you to be with us…
• Worshiping together…
• Because when that happens…
• It’s only a matter of time before Jesus appears…
• And He will erase any doubts and questions that remain.
5. This morning, I recognize that there might be some people like those other disciples here…
• You have been faithful…
• You haven’t allowed doubt to burden you…
• Your relationship with the Lord is as it should be…
• If that is the case…
• I urge you…
• Notice the absence of those who used to be here…
• Recognize that there might be some who are hurting…
• Or doubtful…
• Reach out to them…
• Make them feel loved…
• Appreciated…
• And welcome.
• Don’t let their doubts break your relationship with them…
• If you reach out to the Thomas’ of our day…
• Perhaps even in this service this morning…
• Then the power of the resurrected Christ will come…
• And the Holy Spirit will flow through this place in such a special way…
• And they will enjoy such a boost to their faith…
• That all questions will be wiped away in an instant…
• And they will proclaim, “My Lord and My God”
