Sermon Nuggets Tues Dec 30
Theme- Doubt
Verses- 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."
Doubts Expressed
Sometimes people are harder on Thomas than I think he deserves. You might remember that Thomas was a questioner. Thomas was especially chosen by Jesus because he had a function to perform with the personality given to him by God. I am glad he was quizzical and asked questions. He wasn’t afraid to speak up.
When I was a student in college I was too shy to ask questions of the professor. There were things I didn’t understand or doubted. I didn’t want the class to think I was the only one not getting it. I thought if nobody else had a question I must be the only one. I didn’t want to appear dumb. Every now and again someone would ask the question I had. I am glad he did. I was off the hook as to what others thought about me when I kept my silence. But I learned from others asking the question.
I am glad Thomas was the one asking questions that has be raised ever since the resurrection. When Jesus told their earlier, “I am going to prepare a place for you and I will come again to receive you unto myself” Thomas asked “But we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” If it wasn’t for Thomas we might never have those glorious words from our Lord, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.”
We cannot fault Thomas on his commitment. When Jesus was going to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead, Thomas was so convinced he would be killed he said, “Let us go too, and die with him.”
Perhaps that is why he was so dejected at the crucifixion. He trusted so much in the Messiah that died he was devastated. He believed and now was wrong. He was discouraged for all he believe in he thought was false. The Kingdom had not come. Israel did not have Jesus as King. That day of crucifixion was a day Thomas’ doubts got the best of him. He wasn’t going to be fooled again.
I think it is interesting that all the others grieved together in the upper room. They had contact with one another. Jesus appeared to them all except Thomas who was not there. We are not told the reason for his absence but doubts can have a way of closing ourselves off from others. No longer being with this friends for support can move him to further doubt.
When someone faces suffering alone their burdens can be almost unbearable. When someone shares their burden it is lighter. Just to talk with another who tries to understand helps. He may not be able to solve our problems, but things do not look quite so dark when someone else cares.
C.S. Lewis said that he was plagued with doubts while away form home and in hotel rooms or foreign towns by himself. It is exceedingly difficult to maintain a viewpoint when you are isolated from others who share it. It is true that the hardest part of temptation for Christians is holding their faith when they are thinking they are alone. The encouragement of others who pray and read and worship helps us grow and become stronger in our faith. The Lord designed us for fellowship.
When Thomas did join his friends they were so excited to tell him of the miracle of the resurrection. They had seen the Lord alive! NO. Thomas could not believe that. They tried to explain they saw Him with their own eyes. For Thomas it was too much to swallow. Eye witnesses of 10 men and one woman would not change his mind. He was further alienating himself from his friends by implying that they were mistaken. He refused to accept their testimony.
Our society is full of skeptics and doubters that say what is real is only what is experienced personally. They live a narrow life. I have been encourage with the faith of others, as well as the testimony of the word. I might question some of the facts but when enough people I trust tell of their experience I am willing to consider that as an option of truth.
But Thomas demands proof. What he cannot see, touch or hear he will no longer believe. The naturalist takes that view when it comes to the supernatural. Scientists who do experiments that are repeatable and observable make conclusions based on empirical data. But how do you measure love, or commitment? There are evidences of the non material one must take into account. To conclude there is no God based on outside observation is narrowing the criteria of acceptance of data. Our scientific tools are limited in what they can measure.
Thomas had seen the miracles and witnessed changed lives, but the circumstance of the dead coming back to life was more than he could accept. I would have a hard time believing since it hardly happens today unless it is within minutes of someone being declared clinically dead. It is not part of our experience. Thomas was honest with his feelings and thoughts. He was a man of integrity, not wanting to convince others, but not wanting to be convinced of anything he didn’t personally experience. He could express his doubts and conclude in error that it was impossible for Jesus to rise from the dead.
Most times what others believe really makes no difference if we believe or not. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ is pivotal to trusting Him for all eternity and having hope after death.
Pastor Dale
