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ENCOUNTERING JESUS IN OUR DOUBT JOHN 20:24-31 Pastor Stephen Muncherian July 5, 2009 |
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Please turn with me to John 20 - starting
at verse 24.
We are in the midst of a series looking at Encountering Jesus -
meeting Jesus at our times of deepest needs. We’ve looked
at Encountering Jesus in our loss and encountering Jesus in our fear. This morning
we’re going to be looking at encountering Jesus in our doubt. Did you see this in the news? Yesterday, President Obama attended
a July 4th TEA Party Rally in Washington D.C. and announced that he was
going to eliminate taxes for people earning over $250,000. Maybe you saw this? Michael Jackson
admitted yesterday that he faked his death as a publicity stunt for his
comeback concert tour. Maybe this. On Saturday - Iranian President
Ahmadinejad said that the Jewish holocaust did take place - apologized to
Israel for any hardship he may have caused - and in an effort to promote
Israeli security renounced Hamas and offered to open Iran to any
Palestians who want to relocate there. One last attempt. Bill
Gates and Steve Jobs announced a new collaborative project of Microsoft
and Apple to be released as the MicroPod. In a related story, Bill Gates
apologized for the Vista operating system. He was quoted as saying, “What were we thinking?” Doubtful. Yes? Having been inspired by Steve Y. - from
Dispair.com
“Doubt - In the battle between you and the world - bet on the
world.” One of the things we don’t talk about much
as Christians is our doubts - the gap between what we know intellectually
and what we believe down deep in our hearts. Remember these words from Eden,
“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat
of any tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1 ESV) Its an old
trick of Satan getting us to doubt. “Maybe I misunderstood God?” The world - orchestrated by Satan - the
world bombards us over and over again with philosophies and religions -
crud from the world aimed at getting us to doubt God’s truth. “Maybe Jesus isn’t the only way to
God? What
if any path to God is the right one? What if there is no God?” God forgives our sins. We know that
intellectually.
But we doubt it in our hearts. Maybe because we have so much trouble
forgiving ourselves. If God forgives us why do we carry
around so much guilt? “I’ve messed up so bad. Why should God
forgive me?
How can I really be free of my past? How could God every use someone like
me?” We know that Jesus loves us. But, think
about it.
Jesus loves everybody. That’s a lot of people. “Maybe God does listen to my prayers but
why should He do anything about my problems? Who am I? If God loves
me why do I feel so alone? Maybe I’m just suppose to muddle through
all this on my own.” Somehow it seems wrong - as Christians - to
talk about doubt. “You’re a Christian. All that’s
settled.
Just believe.” This morning we want to encounter Jesus
in our doubts. John - chapter 20 - starting at verse
24:
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called
Didymus - “Didymus” which is a
Greek word meaning “twin” - Thomas may have had the nickname Didymus because he may have been a twin - we don’t know -
But Thomas, one of the twelve, [nicknamed] Didymus, was not with them when Jesus
came. So
the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to
them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my hand
into His side, I will not believe.” Let’s pause. Verses 24 and 25 focus on
Thomas’ Doubt. Let’s say that together, “Thomas’ doubt.” The Sunday after the crucifixion was a day of
loss and fear for the disciples. Mary Magdalene
and some other women had discovered the empty tomb. Peter and John
came to the tomb later. But they left - having no explanation
for what they had seen. Later Mary would claim to have seen and
talked with Jesus. Throughout the day others would claim to
have seen Jesus alive. All of which was hard to process. They’d
seen Jesus treated with inhuman brutality. Watched as He struggled to carry His
cross.
Heard the sound of hammer blows as nails were driven into His hands
and feet.
Heard the thud of the cross being dropped into place.
They’d
watched Him hang in agony. Finally they had seen Him die - taken
down off the cross - heard the deafening silence as the stone sank into
place before the tomb. It was impossible that Jesus should be
alive. By
the evening of the third day after the crucifixion the disciples are
hiding in a locked room - confused - hopeless - fearful - afraid of what
their countrymen might do to them. In
that room Jesus comes and stands before His disciples. He speaks
words of reassurance, “Peace be with you.” He
shows them the wounds in his hands and side. This
isn’t
a ghost story - a mass hallucination. The reality of Jesus’ resurrection
breaks through into their lives. The disciples believe. They
rejoice.
Jesus is alive. Then Jesus commissions His disciples to
share the Gospel - the reality of His resurrection - what they’ve
experienced - share it with others, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send You.” (John 20:1-23) Then He’s gone. A scene impossible to imagine unless we
would have been there. Life changing had we been
there - which - we read in verse 24 - Thomas
wasn’t. So when Thomas shows up - verse 24 -
the other disciples were saying to him, “We
have seen the Lord!” Which probably was an
understatement.
They we’re probably tripping over their words - interrupting each
other - bubbling with excitement - trying to tell Thomas what they had
experienced.
Thomas’ response? Famous
words:
“Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails,
and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His
side, I will not believe.” Regardless of what the other disciples tell
Thomas he isn’t buying it. Maybe he thinks they all imagined seeing
Jesus.
Maybe they saw a vision. But he isn’t buying the story of a
bodily risen Jesus. Not just that - but he won’t believe it -
“I will not believe” - unless certain conditions are met. “I’ve got to see the wounds for
myself.
I’ve got to touch His wounds myself. Physical contact with a real body. I’m not going
to be fooled by some vision thing.” Let’s be careful here - and not sell Thomas
short. We
need to understand where Thomas is coming from. In the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke -
Thomas gets mentioned briefly by name. In John - he gets speaking roles in
three scenes. First - is in John 11 - the
resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus is out beyond the Jordan River with His disciples -
preaching and baptizing - about a days journey from Bethany.
When messengers from Mary and Martha arrive telling Jesus that Lazarus is
very sick. After two days Jesus says, “Let’s go to Judea.” Which prompts a discussion between Jesus
and the disciples - an argument really - between Jesus and the disciples
who thought the plan to go to Judea was crazy because the last time Jesus
was there the Jews had tried to stone Him. Jesus says, “No, we need to go because I need to awaken
Lazarus.”
Literally, “Lazarus is dead. Which is a
good thing because when we get there you’re going to see the power of God
at work.
Your faith is going to be strengthened.” Thomas - responds to all that - by saying,
“Let us also go, so that we may die with
Him.” (John 11:1-16) Its kind of an
Eeyore moment, “We might as well go along and die with
Jesus.” What we see here is Thomas’ devotion to
Jesus. He doesn’t understand it all. Its probably a
lost cause.
The situation grim. They’re going to die. But he’s
willing to go - to risk his life - to follow Jesus. He even
challenges the others to come along. Hold onto that: Thomas - as a
disciple - is devoted to Jesus - even if it means death. In John 14 - the night Jesus is betrayed
and arrested - at the Last Supper - Jesus is telling the disciples that
He’s going away to prepare a place for them. Remember this?
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling
places.”
Jesus is talking about His crucifixion -
His return to the Father - the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, “And you know the way where I’m
going.” Thomas - while the other disciples are just
sitting there in lah-lah-land watching the matza get stale - Thomas is the
one who asks, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going,
how do we know the way?” (John 14:1-6) What we see here is Thomas’
courage. He’s devoted to Jesus - wants to be with
Him. So
Thomas is going to ask the hard questions - even if he’s suppose to know
the answer.
Even if the others ridicule him or don’t understand him. He’s not going
to just go along with things. He’s gotta know. He’s not
afraid to speak up. In both these scenes - what Thomas does is
used by God to open up an opportunity for great revelation. With Lazarus -
because Thomas challenges the disciples to follow - later they’re there
witnessing Jesus’ power over death. At the Last Supper - Thomas’ question
sets up Jesus’ response, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life;
no one comes to the Father but through Me.” A awesome revelation about Who Jesus
is. Thomas is someone - like us - someone who’s
devoted to Jesus - who desires to courageously follow Jesus - to obey God
- to be used by God in His ministry - to serve Him. If he’s
convinced of the resurrection he will be 100% committed to the
mission. Having doubts doesn’t change all that -
doesn’t mean that somehow we’re spiritual failures - that we’re out and
everyone else is in. Let’s be careful not to sell Thomas - or
ourselves - short - because we may have doubts. Verses 26 and 27 focus on Jesus’ Invitation. Let’s say that together, “Jesus’ invitation.” Verse 26: After eight days His disciples were again
inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said
to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger; and see My hands; and reach here
your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but
believing.” A week goes by - and the disciples are
together again.
If you go back up to verse 19 - you’ll see that the scene here in
verse 26 is almost exactly the same as it was when Jesus first appeared to
the disciples on the day of His resurrection - back up in verse 19. Verse 26 is
almost instant replay. But this time the difference is that
Thomas is there with the other disciples. That’s not an accident. This whole
scene is a set-up - arranged by God - specifically for Jesus to meet
Thomas at his place of doubt. Jesus begins with Thomas as He began with
the disciples one week before, “Peace be with you.” Jesus’ greeting, “Peace be with you” “Shalom” coming from God - the source of peace
carries a whole lot more meaning that a trite, “How’s it going?” Jesus is offering His peace. The inner
well-being - not as the world gives it - peace that comes from God’s
presence with us. Jesus speaking His peace into the midst
of Thomas’ doubt. Then Jesus meets Thomas’ conditions for
belief.
Thomas’ “I won’t believe unless…” Its an astounding invitation. Can you
imagine this?
“Go ahead and touch the wounds. Put your hand
in my side.”
Touch the holes left by the nails driven
through here for your sins. Put your hand in the place where the
spear went through as I was dying for the sins of mankind. We
don’t know if Thomas actually went and put his finger in Jesus’ wounds or
his hand in Jesus’ side. If you were there would you have done
it? What
a moment. We need to see something more here. Jesus’
invitation isn’t just about touching wounds. Jesus is
inviting Thomas to explore those wounds. “Put your finger here. Put your hand
in here.”
There’s a significant intimacy in all
that. To
reveal our wounds to someone else is to reveal the depths of who we
are. What
goes on deep within us. Jesus is inviting Thomas to come - with all
of Thomas’ doubts - and Thomas’ wounds that drive those doubts - all the
feelings that we often have - inadequacy - failure - loneliness - whatever
the depths of what keeps us from believing that God really does love and
care for us - and to see in the wounds of Jesus the reality of our own
woundedness.
To experience intimacy with the resurrected Savior Who died for
us. When we see the wounds of Jesus - to hear
His voice.
“Those wounds are there because I love
you. I
know you have doubts. I know you’re wounded. But bring your
wounds to Me.
Bring your heart to Me. Be healed.” That’s an amazing invitation that Jesus
offers to each one of us. Verses 28 and 29 focus on Thomas’ Faith. Let’s say that together, “Thomas’ faith.” Verse 28: Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord
and my God!” You should underline that verse in your
Bibles.
Thomas’ answer is the climax of the whole Gospel of John - what
John has been driving at since chapter one: “In the beginning was the Word… and the
Word became flesh.” (John 1:1,14). Its the
clearest statement of Jesus’ divinity in Scripture. The Greek word that “Lord” translates
“kurios” - the Greeks used that word to translate the Hebrew
“Yahweh.”
Yahweh is the name of God that describes Him as self-existing - the
“God Who Is” - who exists without beginning or end. The God who
causes existence. God - here in verse 28 - is the Greek word
“Theos” - meaning the one true God. Thomas declares that Jesus is the God. To look into the face of Jesus is to
look into the face of God - the Almighty - the one true God. For Thomas -
there’s no doubt. Only belief. God has come
to Him.
Whatever doubts he may have had Jesus has responded to. God’s truth is
revealed.
Jesus is the risen Lord - victorious over sin and
sorrow and death - woundedness and doubt. Then verse 29 - Jesus speaking to Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are
they who did not see, and yet believed.” That’s a challenging statement - challenges us to act on God’s revealed
truth. Those who did not see and yet believed -
notice the past tense - “did not see” - past tense - “and yet believed” - past tense - are the Old Testament saints
who looked forward to the coming Messiah. (S6E3) People like Abraham and Sarah -
Isaac - Jacob - Joseph - Moses - and Rahab. Those that the writer of Hebrews says,
“Men of whom the world was not
worthy.”
Those who lived by faith - looking forward
to what God had promised them. And yet what they never saw in their
time here on earth. The realization of their faith in the
incarnate and resurrected Jesus. (Hebrews 11:1-40) Thomas is privileged. For 3 years he’s
followed Jesus all over Palestine. Seen miracles. Heard His
teaching.
Asked Jesus questions. Shared intimate moments. Only a few men
in all of history have had that
privilege.
Then, in His doubt the resurrected Jesus physically comes to him -
and he’s invited to touch the risen Savior. Thomas believes. On one hand Jesus is validating the belief
of Thomas.
“Thomas, you got it right.” On the other hand, is a challenge. “Thomas, now that you believe what will you
do? How
will your life change?” The Apostle Thomas went to India to share the Gospel -
to those who had not seen - to Malabar on the west coast of India - then
to Madras on the east coast - where he was martyred - run though with a
spear while he was praying. Today there are around 6,000,000
Christians in India - called St. Thomas Christians - 6,000,000 St. Thomas
Christians who claim that it was Thomas who first shared the Gospel with
their forefathers. Bottom line: Thomas convinced of the truth of the
resurrection - because he saw - jumps in with both feet - 100% commitment
- lives out his faith with devotion and courage. Verses 30 and 31 are John’s Application. Let’s try that together, “John’s Application.” Verse 30: Therefore - because Jesus is God - in the flesh -
risen - victorious - which should transform how we live our lives
- therefore many other signs Jesus also
performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this
book; Verse 31 - stay with me - but - because Jesus is God - in the flesh - risen
- victorious - which should transform how we live our lives - these have been written - what are these? All the things
that John did write down - about Jesus - His birth - life - death -
resurrection.
But these have been written so that you
- who’s you? Us! When we read verse 31 - we need to put
our name there instead of the “you” - But these have been written so that
__________ may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that
believing you may have life in His name. John writes so that - like Thomas - at
times doubting - we might have God’s truth revealed to us - and believing
our lives will be transformed. God’s truth is the answer to
doubt. Let’s repeat that together, “God’s truth is the answer to doubt.” At home - when I turn the light on over the
stove - there’s a little beep sound. We have all these appliances that
beep at us.
Cell phones that play just about any sound - loudly - to get our
attention.
On the computer Windows starts and there’s this heavenly
music. If
we didn’t hear something or see something happening - lights blinking - if
things didn’t vibrate - hum - or explode we’d doubt if they were working
properly. God demonstrates the truth of Jesus’
resurrection through the empty tomb - through the rolled away stone -
through the facts of the resurrection. Jesus demonstrated it to His disciples
with each encounter. Jesus demonstrates God’s truth to Thomas
with His wounds.
We need those images - what John has written here. We relate to
them.
They connect with our lives. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in
Corinth - a group of believers that had all kinds of doubts about the
resurrection - and death. “If Jesus is not resurrected we all are in
serious trouble.” Remember that? In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul lists their doubts
- and responds with God’s truth. Read in the positive its an amazing
statement of the truth and implications of Jesus resurrection. Since Jesus Christ is resurrected from the
dead everything that we’ve told you about God and life with God and His
power to transform and heal our lives is true. We really are
speaking for God - testifying of what God has done. Our faith
isn’t some vain worthless collection of spiritual happy thoughts. When you put your trust in Jesus as the
Savior your sins really are forgiven. Your relationship with God really is
restored.
Those who have died trusting in Jesus are not dead. People really
do come back from the grave. He lives. They live. You’ll
live. We
have hope.
There is eternal life. Don’t pity us - join us! When the world crushes in - when you’re
doubting - struggling - cling to God’s truth. Jesus
lives.
God loves you - is deeply concerned for you. His
forgiveness is real. Your life really does have God given
meaning and purpose. God’s truth is the answer to doubt.
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