Gazing in the mirror as the years go by, it is difficult to believe how different I look—more gray, less hair.
A balding, middle-aged man asked his barber, "Why do I have to pay full price for a haircut when there's so little of it?" "Well," the barber replied, "I only actually charge a little for cutting it. What you're paying for mostly is my time searching for it."
Gazing in the mirror as the years go by, it is difficult to believe how different I look, but seeing is believing
In one of Jesus' final appearances before his ascension, he makes a special connection with one of his apostles to strengthen the man's faith and dispel any doubts that he, Jesus, is the risen Lord. Despite Jesus' repeated predictions of his resurrection, that event was far from the minds of his followers after his death, and only incontrovertible proof would persuade them otherwise. That was Thomas's position: "Seeing Is Believing.
I. Thomas questions Jesus' resurrection (vv. 24-25).
In one of Jesus' final appearances before his ascension, he makes a special connection with one of his apostles to strengthen the man's faith and dispel any doubts that he, Jesus, is the risen Lord. Despite Jesus' repeated predictions of his resurrection, that event was far from the minds of his followers after his death, and only incontrovertible proof would persuade them otherwise. That was Thomas's position: "Seeing Is Believing.
I. Thomas questions Jesus' resurrection (vv. 24-25).
John 20:24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
Thomas, also called Didymus ("twin"), is among the first disciples Jesus calls, and he is with Jesus throughout his ministry.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (Matt 10:2-4)
Presumably, Thomas accompanied Jesus during his Galilean tours as well as on his various trips to Jerusalem. The gospel writers say little about him, though, until after the resurrection. He has heard the excited reports from other disciples about a Jesus risen from the dead, but he gives no credence to second-hand accounts.
A. He doubts the other's verification....and...
B. He demands his own verification.
Thomas must see for himself. Moreover, he is apparently familiar with the wounds Jesus sustained during the crucifixion, although he may not have been there, and he fully expects to see evidence of them.
Application: You do not have the luxury of 'seeing for yourself.' You must depend on the testimony of others, the witness of people long dead. Is their word reliable? ...Yes it is. Testimony for the resurrection is those by eye witnesses. Those eyewitnesses faced significant pressure to deny the resurrection, but they did not. Those individuals also demonstrated historical reliability in other matters. Moreover, there were not just a few who saw the risen Christ, but many witnesses. So you can depend on the Bible's testimony about the resurrection. As Paul says,
[Christ] appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also.... (1 Cor 15:5-8)
The resurrection is not just important for Jesus it is also important for you. Again as Paul says,
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Rom 8:11)
Alternatively, "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.... If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Cor 15:17, 19) In other words, your resurrection depends on his resurrection, or his resurrection is an essential prerequisite to your resurrection.
II. Thomas confirms Jesus' resurrection (vv. 26-29).
II. Thomas confirms Jesus' resurrection (vv. 26-29).
John 20:26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, 7 and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
This is the second occasion disciples met behind locked doors. They feared that the religious authorities, having successfully eliminated their rabbi, would attempt to eliminate his closest followers:
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" (John 20:19)
Thomas was missing from the initial gathering but present for the next. Nevertheless, "there is neither praise nor blame for his absence" (Morris 1971:851). His refusal to believe the disciples' report gave him the name, 'doubting Thomas,' a title that has become a common way of referring to someone who is skeptical and refuses to accept something without proof.
Jesus' second appearance probably shocks the disciples, even those who were present for the previous meeting. As if seeing their once dead Lord alive were not disconcerting enough, he now has the ability to walk through walls, a skill he also demonstrates a second time. When Jesus appears here, he addresses Thomas, who is now present:
Jesus' second appearance probably shocks the disciples, even those who were present for the previous meeting. As if seeing their once dead Lord alive were not disconcerting enough, he now has the ability to walk through walls, a skill he also demonstrates a second time. When Jesus appears here, he addresses Thomas, who is now present:
A. He receives his own invitation."See the nail prints in my hands; touch the spear wound in my side." Considering all the healing Jesus accomplished during his ministry, it is likely he could easily heal himself, but he does not, preferring instead to leave it for Thomas to see.
B. He receives his own confirmation.
There is no indication that Jesus ever suffered physically from any illness or injury during his ministry, nor should there be. The consistent and persistent message of the gospel is that he could heal any malady.
Matt 4:24 People brought to him all who were ill...and he healed them.
Matt 8:16b He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
Matt 12:15b Many followed him, and he healed all their sick,
Matt 14:14 When Jesus...saw a large crowd, he...healed their sick.
Matt 15:30 Great crowds came to him...and he healed them.
Matt 19:2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them....
Given Jesus' success in treating other peoples' problems, such as healing the paralytic's hand so it was "completely restored" (Matt 12:13), he is surely able to solve his own problems, especially after having overcome the most difficult problem of all—death. Therefore, it is likely he intentionally chose to leave these marks of his crucifixion for the disciples so there would be no doubt that he is the same person who died on the cross.
Why was Thomas absent from the first meeting? Perhaps fear prevented his attendance. Why should he make it easy for the authorities to round up all the disciples in a single raid? Better that he stay away, at least until the initial interest in the movement Jesus started 'blows over.' Then he hears an unbelievable report: Jesus is alive! They need to get their story straight. First, John, who was at the cross, brings the report: The rabbi is dead. That news traveled fast enough even though the disciples scattered after Jesus' arrest. Then, Peter and others were saying that Jesus is alive.
Why was Thomas absent from the first meeting? Perhaps fear prevented his attendance. Why should he make it easy for the authorities to round up all the disciples in a single raid? Better that he stay away, at least until the initial interest in the movement Jesus started 'blows over.' Then he hears an unbelievable report: Jesus is alive! They need to get their story straight. First, John, who was at the cross, brings the report: The rabbi is dead. That news traveled fast enough even though the disciples scattered after Jesus' arrest. Then, Peter and others were saying that Jesus is alive.
Make up your mind, people! Did he die or not? Both cannot be true.... You say he appeared at a meeting, and he noticed that I wasn't there. Fine, I'll come to the next one. But I still won't believe he's alive unless I actually see the nail prints in his hands and touch the spear wound in his side. I have to confirm this myself.
The second meeting does take place, Thomas does confirm that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead, and "Doubting Thomas" becomes "Determined Thomas," committed to spreading the gospel of the risen Lord. Church tradition says that Thomas took the good news to the Jewish community in India (c. 50) to what is now the state of Kerala, where he established several congregations. Christianity is currently the third largest religion in the nation, after Hinduism and Islam, with over 24 million adherents.
Application: Although Thomas should not so readily have dismissed the report of his fellow disciples, his response to the news about Jesus' resurrection serves as a reminder that you should not be gullible, especially about matters that could determine the course of your life. There is such a thing as healthy skepticism, which should keep you from blind faith, from accepting something without sufficient evidence. But you must also avoid willful denial, rejecting something despite sufficient evidence, because it does not agree with your preconceived notions about how things should be. That was the position some religious leaders took in response to the news that Jesus is alive. They rejected Jesus' resurrection, despite the empty tomb and his post-resurrection appearances, because it did not agree with their preconceived notions about how things should be. They invented a false narrative and pedaled it as if true—"disciples stole the body." Consequently, they missed the opportunity of a lifetime, an opportunity with eternal benefits. In contrast, you accept Jesus' resurrection, because of the empty tomb and his post-resurrection appearances, which guarantees you an opportunity with eternal benefits, and that is a promise He gives to you. As the apostle Paul writes,
Application: Although Thomas should not so readily have dismissed the report of his fellow disciples, his response to the news about Jesus' resurrection serves as a reminder that you should not be gullible, especially about matters that could determine the course of your life. There is such a thing as healthy skepticism, which should keep you from blind faith, from accepting something without sufficient evidence. But you must also avoid willful denial, rejecting something despite sufficient evidence, because it does not agree with your preconceived notions about how things should be. That was the position some religious leaders took in response to the news that Jesus is alive. They rejected Jesus' resurrection, despite the empty tomb and his post-resurrection appearances, because it did not agree with their preconceived notions about how things should be. They invented a false narrative and pedaled it as if true—"disciples stole the body." Consequently, they missed the opportunity of a lifetime, an opportunity with eternal benefits. In contrast, you accept Jesus' resurrection, because of the empty tomb and his post-resurrection appearances, which guarantees you an opportunity with eternal benefits, and that is a promise He gives to you. As the apostle Paul writes,
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Rom 8:11)
Thomas's "Seeing Is Believing" experience gave rise to a desire to seek physical confirmation of one's faith through contact with a religious icon or participation in a religious event. But Jesus put the emphasis on faith without secondary confirmation. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29b)
Despite Thomas's skepticism, Jesus wins his continued support with a simple show of facts. The good news is that Jesus is alive; he is risen. The good news is also that you will rise and live as well.
Despite Thomas's skepticism, Jesus wins his continued support with a simple show of facts. The good news is that Jesus is alive; he is risen. The good news is also that you will rise and live as well.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs