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“Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with Him [Jesus].'” (John 11.16; emphasis mine, jb). This remark by Thomas prompted A. T. Robertson in his New Testament Word Pictures to refer to it as...

Pessimistic Courage

However, pessimistic courage was not what Jesus wanted from His disciples. He not only wanted them to go with Him to death, He wanted them to be faithful so that He could go with them through death! The faith of Jesus Christ (i.e. the Gospel) is not a religion that ends at the grave; its objectives are much loftier. Paul would later write about the value of the Christian religion should it end at the grave. He stated, “...if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up——if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (1 Corinthians 15.13-17).

Faith without a view toward an eternity with God is not biblical faith; it has its basis in some other doctrine. Paul affirmed his unwavering confidence in such a reward when he opined the fact that while he was present with the brethren at Philippi he had a strong “...desire to depart [through death] and be with Christ, which is far better.” (Philippians 1.23). Likewise he affirmed to the saints at Corinth that he would be “...well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5.8).

Jesus requires that we believe in Him as the resurrected Messiah. The same Thomas who was willing to go and die with Jesus was reassured by our Lord on the night of His betrayal that if He went away, He would “...come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14.3). “Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?'” (John 14.5). Something important, even essential, was missing from Thomas' faith.

On a particular Sunday evening after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to a group of His disciples, but Thomas was absent (see John 20.19-24). He showed them irrefutable evidence (His pierced hands and feet along with His riven side) that He was the resurrected Messiah. Seeing the same, John records in his classic third person style, “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (John 20.20). Later they told Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas responded, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20.25). On the very next Sunday, the same group who had assembled a week earlier came together again, except this time Thomas was with them. Once again Jesus appeared in their midst. He told Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20.27). Seeing the overwhelming evidence, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20.28).

Years ago a particular brand of tuna had a commercial in which they rejected Charlie because they didn't want a tuna that had good taste; they wanted tuna that tasted good. Its close but not the same! “To” the grave and “through” the grave are not the same either. Jesus demands that we believe in Him as the risen Lord who will raise us up together with Him for eternity! Pessimistic courage will not do, and close isn't good enough!

Questions:

1. Was Thomas' courage commendable? Why or why not?

2. What about those who call themselves Christians today but who make the resurrection something optional (take it or leave it; its up to you)?

3. What is the Christian faith if Christ is not raised and if He is not coming again to receive us?

4. What evidence do we have that He is risen and that He will come again? How credible is that evidence? Seeing that evidence, how much like Thomas' reaction (see John 20.28) ought ours to be ?

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Moralism