MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6th
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.”
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.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
– John 20:24-29
3 Things Jesus Gives Us When We Doubt
This past Sunday, Mike taught about the tension we experience between FAITH and DOUBT. We discovered that doubting is a part of the journey of following Jesus.
In John 20:24-29, we get a picture of the tension between faith and doubt through the life of the disciple Thomas. Thomas, one of the twelve, doubts that Jesus Christ is actually alive. Thomas witnessed Jesus’ death on the cross, and now he has received word that Jesus is alive, but Thomas has some substantial doubts about the actuality of this claim.
I think Jesus gives Thomas 3 things in this passage, which are the same things Jesus gives us as we navigate the tension between faith and doubt:
1. He’s given you authentic testimony.
Verse 25 tells us “So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas’s trusted friends and fellow disciples tell Thomas with conviction that Jesus is alive! This is an authentic testimony that declares that Jesus is no longer dead but he is alive! He has defeated death!
Now for us today, we too have eyewitness testimony that speaks to the truth of Jesus Christ: the Holy Scriptures. The entire New Testament centers around people through the Holy Spirit, giving testimony to the person and work of Jesus Christ!
Not only that, we have thousands of years of Church history, all testifying to the risen savior Jesus!
And hopefully, you are surrounded by women and men who have experienced Jesus Christ, and they testify to His goodness and grace.
So, in our doubts, we remember the authentic testimony of the Holy Scriptures, Church History, and Fellow Believers.
2. He’s given you his patience.
Verse 26 tells us that 8 days pass between the time of Thomas’s doubts and his first interaction with Jesus. Jesus’ first words to Thomas are not that of a rebuke but rather, “Peace be with you.”
Jesus has patience with our doubts today, too. God does not mock or ridicule us for genuine questions, instead, he invites them in as He is big enough to handle our questions and our doubts.
3. He’s given you his wounds.
In Verse 27, Jesus tells 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.” He gives Thomas the opportunity to confront his doubts head on but even more so it is an invitation to remember that Jesus is not trying to trick Thomas, Jesus was crushed for Thomas. Jesus was pierced for Thomas’s iniquities. Jesus was a sacrifice for Thomas’s sins.
In the same way, Jesus has given you his wounds to save you, your doubts and all.
PRAYER
Our Father,
Thank you for your Word. We pray that by your Spirit, John 20:24-29 would change us into the likeness of Christ. We praise you today that you pursue us in our doubts. We thank you for your patience and for your wounds. We love you, Lord! Father, we pray this now through The Son and By the Spirit. Amen.
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