Sermon Cloud

Following Christ: (Part III)

FOLLOWING CHRIST WITHOUT DOUBTS

John 20:24-31

John 20:24-31

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."

26) A week later his disciples were in the house again, 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."

30) Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.

31) But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

One of the best preachers of the past, G. Campbell Morgan was about 19 years old when he was attacked by some doubts about the Bible. He already had enjoyed some success as a preacher, when the writings of various scientists and agnostics disturbed him (e.g., Charles Darwin, John Tyndall, Thomas Huxley, and Herbert Spencer). As he read their books and listened to debates, Morgan became more and more perplexed. Because of this, he cancelled all his preaching engagements, put all the books in a cupboard and locked the door, and went to the bookstore and bought a new Bible. He said to himself, "I am no longer sure that this is what my father claims it to be--the Word of God. But of this I am sure. If it be the Word of God, and if I come to it with an unprejudiced and open mind, it will bring assurance to my soul of itself." The result? "That Bible found me!" said Morgan. The new assurance in 1883 gave him the motivation for his preaching and teaching ministry. He devoted himself to the study and preaching of God's Word.

Doubts are real. And doubts can take roots even to the best of us. It is greatly possible that some of us are struggling with some doubts right now. Our passage this morning provides us an account wherein, after the remarkable resurrection of the Lord Jesus, Thomas who was one of the followers of Jesus expressed his serious doubts with what had happened. It would be interesting to learn how Jesus helped Thomas overcome his doubts. Let's examine together what happened.

I           The Articulation of Doubts: (vv. 24-25)

            on the eve of the resurrection day, Jesus appeared to his followers while they were in a locked room hiding in fear. Unfortunately, Thomas was not present when all of this had happened. So when the other 10 disciples told him the story, he expressed his unbelief or doubts by saying, "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."  

            Just like Thomas, it seems that there's a period in our lives wherein we go through  some doubts.  Oswald Chambers once wrote, "Doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong; it may be a sign that he is thinking."

            You see, doubts are not necessarily bad as long as we know what to do with them. The truth is - a person who never doubts is in a greater danger because he or she is probably so naïve or gullible.   He or she believes everything without questioning anything. Doubts oftentimes when handled properly can lead to a more stable conviction.

            In the Bible, it was not just Thomas who had some doubts. Do you remember Abraham? He doubted whether God would really use Sarah his wife to be the mother of his promised offspring. How about his wife, Sarah? When God told her that she would have a child in her old age, guess what she did? She laughed; she said, "How can an old woman like me have a baby?" In other words, she doubted God's word. One of the greatest doubters in the NT was John the Baptist. He saw the spirit of the Lord descend on Jesus, he heard God say "this is my beloved Son" and yet when John was thrown into prison, when his circumstances changed, he doubted. Remember what he said? He sent word to Jesus and asked, "Are you really the Messiah or should we look for someone else?"  

When we examine our lives, usually we experience some doubts when we encounter the following:

• Ø When we're faced with a difficult doctrine that does not seem to fit reason (like the Trinity, God working all things for our good, God's Sovereignty, once saved you're always save)
• Ø When tragedies happen (like loved ones dying or being diagnose with terminal diseases)
• Ø When our expectations don't happen (prayers unanswered, lack of provisions)
• Ø When we are in pain (it is tough to believe in God's love when we feel alone)

Whenever you experience some doubts, where do they come from?  Again, if someone like Thomas can struggle with some doubts, some of us can definitely go through the same thing. I believe what is important is what are we going to do with them. Are we willing to verbalize them, and then find some answers? James reminded his readers that doubts can bring so much instability in our lives:

James 1:6-8

6) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

7) That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

II         The Antidote of Doubts: (vv. 26-27)

            After Thomas has verbalized his doubts, a week later, Jesus re-appeared before the disciples with Thomas being present. Jesus had heard Thomas' words; nobody had to report them to Him. So, when the Lord appeared to them He gave Thomas the invitation:

            "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Noticeably, Jesus did not give words of rebuked, criticisms or condemnation. Instead, Jesus is saying Thomas I understand your doubts, so I want you to come to me and allow me to resolve your doubts. He gave an invitation to examine the evidences. You see, when times of doubt come, it is important for us to examine the evidences. Thomas was shown the holes from the nails in Jesus' hands and feet and the wound in His side. The evidences were there.

            In the same way, whenever we are struggling with doubts, we need to check out the evidences given to us by God in the Scriptures.  God can withstand honest inquiry. Look at the last two verses of our text:

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

            John tells us that His whole purpose in writing this gospel is so we might see the evidences that lead to faith.          We need to be more diligent in studying the Bible in order for our faith to be more stable. We need to be just like the Bereans in the book of Acts:

Acts 17:11

11) Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

These people diligently examine the Scriptures so that their faith will become more stable.

            Now, if we already had done that, and we are still struggling, the remedy for us is to directly seek the Lord's help for Him to move us to faith.  We would find a great example in Mark 9:        

Mark 9:21-24

21) Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"

"From childhood," he answered.

22) "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

23) " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

24) Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

            This father who sought Jesus' help for his son who was demon possessed struggled to believe. But then notice his request in verse 24, He literally said, "Lord, help me not to doubt."  You know what I find here - if you and I have enough faith to come to God in our times of doubts, He will surely assist us to overcome them. He will be there for us.  Just like He was also there for Thomas.    

            The last part of verse 27, "Stop doubting and believe," should be emphasized. Jesus doesn't want us to stay in doubt. We should resolve them and stay in faith.   

III        The Affirmation of Faith (vv. 28-29)

            Lastly, it is good to see how Thomas moved from his doubts to faith. There is no record that Thomas ever accepted the Lord's invitation.  Seeing Jesus was more than enough proof for Thomas.  His words, "My Lord and my God!" say it all.

            By the way, Thomas doubts when resolved lead him to make this very important declaration. Thomas announced that Jesus, the Man of Galilee, is God manifest in the flesh. Thomas at the same time is showing us that the resurrection of Jesus is one of the important evidences regarding the trustworthiness of Jesus as God. The apostle Paul echoed the same thing:

Romans 1:4

4)  and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

            Now, how about us? Do we need to see Jesus physically in order to believe in Him? We should take verse 29 to heart, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  Jesus pronounced a blessing on all who would come to faith without the help of a visible, bodily manifestation to them.  Today, we are a part of that blessed company. We don't have to see to believe.  Of course, we are not the only ones who are doing this. Most of the New Testament believers have done the same. Paul declared:

2 Corinthians 5:7

7) We live by faith, not by sight.

            Thomas life was radically and forever changed because of this experience. Tradition tells us that Thomas took the gospel to India and gave his life sharing the good news of the freedom found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Thomas knew what it was to have great doubts and then great faith. My prayer for you is that you'll not only survive your bout with doubts, but you'll thrive because you've conquered your doubts.