Thomas: Fiducial Follower Series

THOMAS: FIDUCIAL FOLLOWER

JOHN 14:1-7

#ApostleThomas

INTRODUCTION… Famous Thomas-es

I don’t know if you realize it or not, but if you name your kid Thomas, there is a better than average chance he or she will become famous. There are lots of famous Thomas-es out there! Not only can you be famous for having Thomas as a first name but you can be famous for having Thomas as a last name.

Thomas Jefferson: 3rd U.S. President, principal author of the Declaration of Independence

Saint Thomas More: English lawyer, statesman, and Catholic martyr

Thomas Edison: super good stealer of ideas and “inventor” of the electric light bulb

Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Tom Hardy, Tom Holland, and Tom Selleck: actors all

Tom Brady: GOAT NFL quarterback with 7 Super Bowl wins

Tom Watson: Pro golfer, winner of 8 major championships

Tom Clancy: Author of military and espionage thrillers, such as ‘The Hunt for Red October.’

Thomas the Tank Engine needs no explanation

Tom Sawyer: the Mark Twain character

Tommy Pickles: the baby from ‘Rugrats’

Clarence Thomas: U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Dave Thomas: Founder of Wendy’s

Last week we started a three-week series on the Apostle Thomas who is the most famous Thomas in all the Bible. He happens to be the only Thomas in the Bible, but nevertheless, he remains the most famous Thomas in the Bible. Today we are continuing 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. This three-week series is going to focus on the three passages in which we find the Apostle Thomas speaking.

John 11:1-17 (last week)

John 14:1-7 (this week)

John 20:24-29 (next week)

LAST WEEK REVIEW / CONTEXT / TRANSITION

Last week we looked at John 11 where Jesus, Thomas, and the other disciples were under foreboding pressure because of the division, accusations, danger, threat of arrest, and plans of execution. They were heading back south towards Jerusalem where death awaited Jesus. And… this was not fanciful thinking, but Jesus went there and He did in fact die one week later. Amid all that pressure, Thomas makes a statement that clues us into his character and his commitment to Christ: “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”

Today we are in John 14 which happens in the Upper Room as Jesus is having the Last Supper with His disciples before He is arrested. Jesus has washed the disciple’s feet showing them how to serve one another (John 13:1-20). Jesus predicts that one of the twelve will betray Him which did in fact happen (John 13:21-30). Jesus gives them a new command which is a summary of all He has taught them for three years:

READ JOHN 13:34-35 (ESV)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus then shares with Simon Peter than he is not “all that and a bag of chips” like he thinks he is and that he will deny Jesus three times very soon (John 13:36-38). His arrest is just a few hours away. He dies the next day. John chapter 14 begins with Jesus Christ continuing to encourage and teach His disciples about all that will take place. Let’s read from John 14:1-7 and then we will focus specifically on verses 5-6.

READ JOHN 14:1-7 (ESV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”

The verses in the above passage are some of the most significant words spoken by Jesus Christ recorded for us in the Gospels. His answer, in context, is to Thomas who had honest questions about what Jesus was saying and what He was predicting He would do and where He would go. Jesus’ answer, in context, also gives believers and not-yet believers alike an anchor and polar star to rely upon.