Thomas, the Doubting Disciple
Sunday, March 8th, 2009
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“Thomas, the Doubting Disciple”
John 20:29
Introduction: As we continue our study on the “Master’s " would you turn to Matthew 10:1-4 and again notice Jesus’ call of the twelve disciples, “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. (2) Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; (3) Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; (4) Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.”I doubt in all the history of the human race there have ever been living simultaneously twelve more significant men than the twelve disciples whom Jesus chose. You find them listed four times in the New Testament, in Matthew, Mark and Luke; then again in the book of Acts.
Simon Peter is always named first, In Matthew 10:2 we read, “…the first, Simon, who is called Peter…” The word “first” is the Greek word meaning, “foremost one,” “primary one,” or “chief one.” Peter was the leader, the out-front, up-front man.
Judas Iscariot is always named last. It is because he is the one who made himself infamous by his unbelief, infidelity and disloyalty as he betrayed the Lord and sold Him out for thirty pieces of silver.
These twelve disciples are significant men.
To them Jesus deposited His truth during His last three and a half years upon the earth.
To them He entrusted the great task of preaching the Gospel to the known world after His ascension.
To Matthew, Peter and John, He entrusted the tremendous responsibility of writing eight New Testament books.
I do not believe there has ever been a more influential group of men than these. If you doubt that, you need to drive down the streets of any major city, where you will find churches named after, Peter, Paul, James, John and Matthew.
These twelve men were ordinary men chosen from the common people to be the agents of Christ to set in motion the advancement of the Kingdom. Throughout the history of the world there has never been a task equal to the task given these men, "To FINISH the WORK that Jesus began."
We now come to the last disciple of this second group, Thomas. In summary from the Word of God we discover:
First: In John 11:16 we read this about Thomas, “Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples…” The word “Didymus” in the Greek means twin. Perhaps he had a twin brother.
Second: Thomas is not mentioned in the first three Gospels, except for the mention of his name in the list of the twelve.
Third: Had it not been for his mention in the Gospel of John, we would know nothing at all about him. He is mentioned in the Gospel of John four times:
In John 11, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead;
In John 14, when Jesus talked about going back to the Father in Heaven;
In John 20, after the resurrection of Christ; and
In John 21 as one of the disciples who went fishing with Peter.
Fourth: Thomas has become known as “Doubting Thomas.” Many other words have been used to describe him, sullen, brooding, pessimistic and melancholy. Perhaps one reason Thomas has earned this name “Doubting Thomas” is because he was so inquisitive. Perhaps it would be better to refer to him as “The Apostle who wanted to be sure” rather than “Doubting Thomas.” I believe a careful study will reveal that he wanted a firm basis for his faith.
Fifth: Tradition tells us that Thomas preached as far as India. Tradition also tells us that Thomas was killed in India where, because of his faith, a spear was rammed through his body. Perhaps it was a fitting climax for the one who was told to reach forth his hand and feel the spear mark in his own Lord. The Malabar Christians of Saint Thomas in India still count Thomas as their first evangelist and martyr.
There are FOUR chapters in the gospel of John in which Thomas is an important and significant character. In this lesson we are going to look at THREE of the four chapters and then draw some conclusions:
Number 1: When THOMAS saw what he ought to do, nothing could keep him back. As we approach Chapter 11:1-16, Jesus and His disciples had left Jerusalem because the plot to take His life had become more pronounced and it wasn’t His time to die. In John 10:39-40 we read, “Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, (40) And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.” Here Jesus received the news that His close friend Lazarus was sick. But instead of immediately going to Lazarus to make him well, as his sisters Mary and Martha wanted Him to do, He waited for two days, John 11:6-7, “When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. (7) Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.” Why did Jesus do this? Because Jesus wanted to give Lazarus sufficient time to die. Notice please verses 14-15, “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (15) And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.” Well, when Jesus said in verse 15, “…let us go unto him,” the disciples panicked. Why? Because Lazarus’ body was in Bethany and Bethany was only two miles east of Jerusalem. Now that was a scary announcement, and I am sure they must have thought, “This is suicide. We can’t go back there!” It’s at this point that Thomas enters the scene and says in verse 16, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” Now Thomas’ statement could be interpreted two ways.
There are those who say, this is the voice of a pessimist who saw only the bad side of everything. He was the kind of fellow who went around to all the doorknobs and hung a funeral wreath on them. They say he was possessed with melancholy, always with his lip on the ground, always complaining.
On the other hand there are those who say this is the voice of one with a deep devotion and determination. I believe it was just that, a statement of deep devotion. I see several characteristics that stand out here.
First: I see His leadership initiative Thomas takes over and rises to the top and says, “Wait a minute guys let’s go to Him and die with Him.”
Second: I see his courage. The greatest courage in the world is not the courage of an optimist, because an optimist always expects the best. I believe that the greatest courage is that of a pessimist because he expects the worst and is still willing to follow through. Thomas could see nothing but disaster ahead, yet he was determined to go with Christ and to die with Him if need be.
Third: I see his devotion of Faith and Love. Why was Thomas so willing to die with Jesus? It certainly wasn’t because he doubted Him. Rather, it was because he so totally believed Him. And along with this faith, I believe he had such a deep love for Jesus that he could not endure existence without Him.
Number 2: When THOMAS saw what he ought to do, he only wanted to know how to do it, As we come to John 13:36-14:6 we focus upon the last meal Jesus was to have with the Disciples and the demonstration of being a loving servant. Then in John 14:1-4 Jesus gives this startling announcement to His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (4) And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” Then in verse 5, Thomas speaks up and says, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest and how can we know the way?”
The statement that Thomas makes in verse 5 is spoken from the same heart that said, “Lord, don’t go somewhere we can’t go” back in John 11. The issue with Thomas was the disturbing thought of being separated from Jesus. In other words, Thomas was saying, “Lord, I don’t like what I hear. You say that You are going to leave us, and that we know where You’re going and how to get there, but we don’t know and we’ll never find the place.” I believe Thomas was speaking from a broken, bewildered, bleak heart.
I thank God for the inquisitiveness and honesty of Thomas. For had he not asked his question in verse 5, we would never have had John 14:6, one of the most beautiful and comforting passages in the Bible where Jesus said, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Thomas asked only one question: “What is the way to the Father?” However, our Lord seems to have given three answers,
I am the way to all truth about the Father. No one knows the Father apart from Christ. All we know about God, we have learned through Jesus Christ, verse 7, “If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”
I am the way of life with the Father. Men are dead in trespasses and sin, but they come alive to the Father when they receive Christ as their Saviour.
I am the only way to go to heaven and to be with the Father.
Again I believe we see more than Thomas’ pessimism, we see his intense love and need to be with Jesus.
Number 3: When THOMAS saw what he ought to believe, He only wanted to know that it was right., Jesus was crucified in John 19, and when He died, Thomas was shattered. He probably said, “I knew it would happen! He died and I didn’t die with Him. He went away and I don’t know where He is.” All of his fears had come true and he felt betrayed, rejected, and forsaken. Like a wounded animal, he retreated to be alone and to lick his wounds. So when all the rest of the disciples came together, he wasn’t there. Thomas was extremely depressed because he loved Jesus so deeply.
In John 20:24-25 we read, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. (25) The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he 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.” Reading this passage, perhaps the only negative thing we can say about Thomas was he missed the very first Sunday night church service. He was not where he should have been. Unfortunately, that is also true of far too many Christians. They are not where they should be, so they miss important experiences.
I believe the Bible has something to say about being where the Lord’s people are. From Hebrews 10:25 we read, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Where ought Christians to be? When the doors are open they ought to be in the house of God, where God’s people are assembled. I believe, and this is not legalism as some would call it, everyone in the congregation including the Deacons, members, leaders, and teachers ought to be in all the scheduled services of the church. One of the characteristics of a saved person is that he desires and wants and recognizes his need of fellowship with other Christians. Psalm 122:1 says, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Thomas was guilty of not being where he should have been on that first Sunday night after the resurrection of Christ.
Now, did you ever try to talk to somebody who is depressed? It’s difficult. Remember Thomas was depressed, and he is a pessimist. He was basically saying, “I’ve got to see it to believe it.” Now before you pounce on Thomas and label him as “the doubter,” kindly remember two things:
First that none of the disciples believed that Jesus had risen until they saw Him.
Second, every-one of us in this room tonight have been to a place of doubting. Let’s be honest. We all have times of doubt, including your pastor. Thomas’ sin was that he could not believe without seeing. He could not believe without touching. He could not believe without feeling. He could not believe just because God said so. Yet the Bible says to us in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” So why do we doubt?
Because we have not hid the Word of God in our hearts. A Christian who does not read the Bible and grasp the promises of God is bound to doubt. Believing the promises of God means; believing them because God said it. We do not need sight, sound, nor feeling, we can believe simply because God has said so.
Because we are in some very difficult circumstances of life. We are like the children of Israel coming upon the Red Sea. There were mountains on both sides, the Red Sea in front of them and the thundering chariots of Pharaoh’s army behind them. They trembled in those circumstances. However, God said to them in Exodus 14:13, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” We must fear not and stand still to see the salvation of the Lord.
Because there is sin in our lives. We can’t expect to live in sin and have a strong faith at the some time. Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”
By the way, the Lord doesn’t mind it when people want to be sure. In the case of Thomas, He accommodated his desire to see Him first hand. Look with me at verses 26-29, “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. (27) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” It doesn’t say that Thomas did any of that, he just immediately answered Jesus and said, “My Lord and My God.” In this greatest single confession ever made, Thomas affirmed the deity and the lordship of Jesus Christ. Then in verse 29 Jesus said, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou has believed: blessed are they that have not seen, andy et have believed.”
Thomas was melancholy, moody, pessimistic and shattered. But when he saw the Lord Jesus Christ, he gave the greatest testimony ever given, “My Lord and My God.” That one statement literally destroys the lie that Jesus is not God! All the “isms, schisms, and spasms” that come along and deny the deity of Christ are utterly silenced by Thomas’ response.
What kind of people does God use? Vile sinners like Matthew and tender-hearted, moody, melancholy pessimists like Thomas. All the Apostles were unique individuals and our Lord used them to change the world. If you are available, He can use you too. Remember, His purposes will be accomplished by the many or by the few.
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If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon on “Thomas, the Doubting Disciple” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, would you please let me know? Please send me an e-mail to pdmikBBM@aol.com. and in return I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
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