Thomas Sunday Series

Theme: My Lord My God

Text: John 20:24-29

Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!

Introduction: This month we will meditate on the appearances of the Resurrected Lord Jesus. The evets and persons whom Jesus met between the resurrection and ascension are another important area of faith concerns of the Church. "After his suffering, Jesus presented himself to them and gave many infallible proofs of that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3).

This passage (John 20:24-29) shows more specifically the significance of believing after, or because of, having seen the risen Christ, and believing without having seen him. I would like to leave with you the three characteristics of Thomas from this passage, He was a confused Thomas (John 20:24-25), convinced Thomas (John 20:26-28), and committed Thomas (John 20:29).

1. Confused Thomas (John 20:24-25)

Thomas the Didymus, an Apostle (Greek: T?µ??; T?oma, Aramaic te’oma, Greek: ??d?µ?? Didymos meaning "the twin"). Thomas came from a region of Judea surrounding the Sea of Galilee. The Syrian tradition says that his full name was Judas Thomas. Thomas’ name occurs in Matthew (10:3), Mark (3:18), Luke (6) and Acts of the Apostles (1:13), John (11:16, 14:5, 20: 24-29, 21:2). His name last mentioned in the Bible was in Acts 1:13. Very notable observation is that all information about Thomas, his personality, and his character are found in Gospel of John.

Thomas was a very dedicated Apostle of Jesus, and he had first hand witness for many miracles Jesus performed, because he walked with him, and talked with Jesus.  But he was confused at various occasions and critical situations. He appears three times very active in the Gospel of John (John 11:16, 14:5, 20: 25-29). In all these three occasions his responses are important point of theology. They are: to visit Bethany to raise dead Lazarus, the Last Supper, and the resurrection of Christ.

First Thomas said: "Let us also go, that we may die with him."(John 11:16). The disciples reminded him of the hatred of the Jews, and of their recent attempts to kill Jesus. Disciples thought that Jesus would not venture to go back again into the danger, even for the sake of carrying comfort to the sorrowing Bethany household. Thomas thought that if Jesus returned to Judea he would be killed.

Thomas did not realise the divinity of Jesus, and the divine protection which sheltered him while he was doing Father's will. Thomas failed to understand the words Jesus which he spoke about his security until the hours of his day were finished. John 10:18 that Jesus would lay down his life and he can take it or resurrected to life. Thomas was so worldly to remember the bitterness of the Jews shown toward Jesus, and their determination to kill him by any means. In sorrow he failed to receive true and substantial comfort from the Scriptures.

The second time Thomas exquisitely raised a question in the upper room during Last Supper. Thomas was under pressure to know the way Jesus is going and end as per John 14:1-5.  “… For I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, and you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how we know the way?”

We read the scriptures but don’t receive the right revelation of the Word. We understand the Word of God, according to our human limitations. Yielding to the Holy Spirit and to his dominion will lead us into the way of God, into the right understanding of the Word. This reflects our relationship with God in all our life struggles and situations. How do we confess Jesus in our life threats, times of hard situations of our friends and relatives, and at times of lost hope in our efforts?  

2. Convinced Thomas (John 20:26-28)

Thomas had sincerely pledged to His master that he would not leave him at any cost and he would die with him (Matthew 26:35, Mark 14:31). But, Thomas deserted Jesus during the crucifixion along with other disciples (Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50). He was utter chaos, clueless and directionless after the crucifixion. He was not with the band of Disciples. He was not there in Jerusalem when Jesus appeared on the Third Day. Thomas was a man of melancholy.

John is the only Evangelist who has preserved this incident in which Thomas was convinced and moved from unbelief to belief after his encounter with the risen Lord. Thomas initially doubted the resurrection of Jesus Christ so commonly called "Doubting Thomas".