Today we are one week removed from Easter Sunday. We had an incredible service as we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus! The Body of Christ, as a whole, around the world, celebrated Easter together - praising and glorifying our risen savior. How amazing it was!
In John 20, where we will be reading today, it will also be one week removed from the resurrection of Christ. Jesus has already been crucified, has already been laid in a tomb, and miraculously has already risen from the dead. The stone from the tomb has already been rolled away, and Jesus has already revealed himself to Mary Magdalene.
On that same day, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples. Except, there was one disciple that was missing. Who was it you might ask? Well let’s read to find out more.
John 20:19-23
“19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.””
The disciples were gathered together in one place, discouraged and afraid. Jesus entered the room and revealed Himself to the disciples. He breathed on them the Holy Spirit and then pre-commissioned them to go into all the world. You could say that they just had church!
Nevertheless, as I mentioned before, there was someone who was missing. Let’s continue reading…
John 20:24-25
“24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Before we go any further, let us talk a little bit about Thomas:
After Jesus commissioned the disciples to go into all the world, Thomas went on to become an apostle of Christ. This was the beginning of the church era. It is believed that Thomas became a missionary and journeyed eastward from Jerusalem to share the gospel to the world. While some believe he traveled to and through Iran, it is universally believed that Thomas took the gospel to South India. He first arrived on the coast of Kerala, India where he would begin to share the gospel with everyone. His message was popular and began to draw large crowds. He would go from city to city, town to town, village to village, to tell people about Jesus. In doing so, people began to place their faith in Jesus, and were born-again. While his message drew many faith-seekers, it created enemies for Thomas as well. It is a strong belief that Thomas was eventually martyred for his bold witness for Christ in South India, possibly near the city of Chennai of Tamil Nadu.
Thomas was a faithful minister of Christ. Many credit the Apostle Thomas for being the first missionary to bring Christ to the country of India. Even today you will find churches named after the Apostle Thomas in South India. Although we don’t know very much about him, we know he did great things for God.
In light of these things, let us go back to our text for today. While Thomas went on to do great things for Jesus, he was facing hardships in his life.
Point #1: Thomas would not believe.
John 20:24-25 - “24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Thomas, in his despair, would not believe in the resurrection. He was struggling with doubt. At one point, he believed in Jesus and he believed Jesus could do all things. But, he lost hope and could not see Jesus doing the things He said He was going to do.
If we were to put ourselves in Thomas’ shoes, we too might have struggled with doubt. Maybe you are that person today.
We
may imagine:
•
“God could never use me.”
•
“God did it for them but He will never do it for
me.”
•
“Because I was hurt, I will never believe.”
• Etc
Have you ever had these feelings before? Maybe there is someone here today that is struggling with these feelings.
It is important to note that this is not an example of what we should do, but an example of what we should not do. Thomas allowed his despair to turn into calamity. He allowed his disappointment to turn into adversity. Sure things were bad, but by isolating himself from the other disciples, he made things worse.
As Pastor Ron says, “No matter how bad things are, we can always make things worse.”
Although that was true for Thomas, it would not be the end of his story. Thomas was having a serious moment of unbelief at this point in his life. Yet, as mentioned before, he would go on to do great things for God. This moment of disappointment would not be the last thing we hear about Thomas.
Doubt, despair and disappointment do not have to be the end of the road for us. It does not have to be the story of our life. It may be what we are going through today, but it does not have to be our tomorrow.
Thomas was holding on to his disappointment and his doubt. He was claiming it as his own fate in life. However, God had other plans.
Our adversity does not have to become our identity.
What we go through does not have to be what we turn into.
Don’t
claim your current circumstances as your future outcome.
Instead, with an open heart and out stretched hands allow God to transform your doubt into belief.
Trust and believe that God can and will do what He has promised He will do.
Point #2: Jesus met Thomas where he was.
John 20:26-27 - 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
As we read before, Jesus had already appeared to the disciples, but Thomas wasn’t there. Yet, Jesus appeared again, but this time it was for Thomas. Jesus met him where he was. Why? I’m sure there are many reasons, but one of those reasons is that God had a plan for Thomas. He was important to His plan of the gospel going forth. Therefore, Jesus met him in his time of despair. Jesus knew his thoughts. Jesus knew his doubts. Knowing this, He provided an opportunity for Thomas to believe.
You know Jesus will plan a whole service just to reach YOU!
ILLUSTRATION: God planned an entire summer camp with a basketball tournament in order to get me to believe. God knew at that time that basketball would get my attention. God met me where I was and I believed!
God will meet you where you are because you are that important to God.
God had a plan for Thomas. He was important to God’s plans in spreading the gospel around the world. Therefore, Jesus showed up just for Thomas so that he would believe again.
Your are important to God’s plan. He has called you and given you a purpose. It is a high calling that He is continuing to prepare you for. Therefore, God is willing to meet you where you are. He is willing to plan an entire service just to reach you.
When you are struggling, don’t isolate yourself. Instead, come to the house of God! Join yourself with other believers. God has already prepared an answer for you through the word of God in church.
Of course God can meet you wherever you are. But, He will always point you back to church.
Church
is not a man-made idea. Church is a God-ordained institution.
The church is God’s creation!! It is the body of Christ in the earth today. Meaning, we take the place of Jesus in doing the work of God here on earth.
The church is important to God. Therefore we should value it the way God does.
Don’t give up on yourself, but believe!
Point #3: Thomas believed!
John 20:28 - “Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””
Thomas comes to the realization that Jesus really is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. Seeing the resurrection, Thomas’ faith in Jesus is renewed.
Jesus wants us to do one thing: to believe!
John 20:27 - “Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
John 20:31 - “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Jesus was looking to re-activate Thomas’ faith in God.
Thomas responds to Jesus saying, “My Lord and my God!”
He doesn’t say “The Lord.” He says, “My Lord.” While it is true that Jesus is Lord over all, Thomas was saying that Jesus is Lord over my life! My Lord means that Jesus has dominion over “my” life.
I can trust in you!
I can believe in you!
I can follow you!
I can depend on you!
I will yield my life to you!
In the same way, we can trust Jesus with our life. We can depend on Him to make a way when we can’t see a way. When times are good, we can trust Him. When times are bad, we can trust Him. No matter the outcome, we can still proclaim that God is good!!
Along with my Lord, Thomas says “my God!” This is in relation to His eternal nature and authority. God is the creator and sustainer of the universe and is also the savior of our souls through Christ. Thomas didn’t say “The God,” he said, “My God!”
When we come to Christ, He becomes our personal savior and hope. Not just in this life, but in the life to come. I am thankful for what Jesus does for me in this life, but it does not compare with what He will do for me in eternity!
He
will:
•
Transform me inside and out, so that I will be
made like Him!
•
Write my name in the lambs book of life!
•
Wipe every tear from my eyes!
• Welcome me into paradise with Him forever!
There will be no more sighing, crying, or dying. We will be with Jesus in Heaven forever That is a hope we can hold on to.
Trust in God! Don’t believe in your circumstances, believe in what God can do and what He will do!
Let us trust God when times are difficult and let us not forget Him when times are good.
Like Thomas, let us believe that Jesus is both Lord and God!!
Takeaways:
1. Don’t allow adversity to claim your identity.
•
Do not claim your current circumstance as your
future outcome.
•
What we went though in the past does not have to
be what defines the rest of our life.
2. Trust God’s future over your present circumstances.
•
God holds your future in His hands. If we trust
Him, He will navigate us through our trouble and into our purpose.
