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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Scoop: Disciples Shout while Thomas Doubts! In keeping with my intention to present a few spiritual scoops as articles, today's message contains one of my all time favorite biblical stories. Were it not for John's gospel, we would have no knowledge of this faith-building event. Enjoy Doubting Thomas!
“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.' Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, 'We have seen the Lord.' So he said to them, '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.' And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace to you!' Then He said to 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.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'” (John 20.19-28).
One thing that stands out in this text is the tremendous patience of Jesus and His dedication to the principles of faith. Thomas had heard the testimony of others, but that was not enough for him. He knew that if their story of the resurrected Christ could be believed, then he also would have the opportunity to examine the same evidence first hand. And, in fact he did just one week later.
What would it take to make Thomas a believer? He stated the conditions himself: “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.” When the opportunity presented itself, what evidence did Jesus offer? “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.” Jesus offered that which was needed to produce faith; He offered positive proof! You see, Jesus did not ask Thomas to take a leap of faith; He just offered the evidence that was required to change unbelief (non-faith) to belief (faith). Jesus has never asked anyone to believe anything for which there was or is inadequate evidence. In doing this, Jesus insured that poor hardheaded souls such as myself would have adequate reason to acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior. It was evidence that produced faith; not the lack of it!
Hear now Jesus' and John's commentary to these events. “Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.' And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20.29-31).
This is where you and I come in. We are those “...who have not seen and yet have believed.” We are those who have read the things written in the book and have come to “...believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing,” have life in His name! That is a spiritual scoop!
Questions:
1. What evidence did the twelve see that convinced them that Jesus had risen?
2. What evidence did Thomas demand in order that he might come to the same conclusion?
3. Do you think that Thomas' demands angered or disappointed Jesus? Why or why not?
4. What evidence do we have that has brought us to faith in Jesus? According to the author's own words, what was/is the purpose of the book of John?
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