Rising From Skepticism

Scripture Reading

John 20:24–28 (NLT)

24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” 26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

Focus Statement

The journey from unbelief to belief requires a grace-filled encounter with the living Christ.

Point of Relation

As a young adult, emerging from school into the workplace, I had a ton of doubt that I would ever be able to succeed.

I was fearful that, despite my training from Chubb Institute, I would not really be any good at computer programming.

I was fearful of starting a job in the real world.

The doubt was there…for real.

Have any of you felt that way when you started something out?

What made me eventually overcome that doubt is the fact that the more I worked as a Software Engineer, the more I grew in my confidence that I could succeed.

I started traveling to conventions and representing the company. It was a time of building up my own identity as an adult who could contribute to society.

When I did lose that job a year later, it was NOT because I didn’t know what I was doing…but because the company went belly-up.

Of course, that did bring me into an entirely new season of doubt…truth be told…doubt is a constant in life.

Things to Consider

As human beings, we all experience doubt.

I want to invite you to think about your doubt.

What doubt exists in your life…in any aspect of your life…

it could be doubt in God, but it could be doubt in others, in circumstances, and even in our own selves.

Think about your doubt…what doubt you have...and its impact on your life?

How have these experiences shaped your journey of faith?

What Scripture Says

Thomas was not with the the disciples when the resurrected Jesus appeared among them for the first time (in John 20:19-23).

The disciples told Thomas what had happened but he wouldn’t believe what he was told.

He had to experience it for himself (v. 25).

Before we move forward, let’s have a closer look at Thomas as a person…as a disciple.

In John 11:1-16

Jesus learns that his friend Lazarus has died and has told his disciples that he wants to head to Judea...

The problem is the the religious leaders are out on the look out for him and want to arrest and kill him.

So the disciples protest. In verse 8 they object, “Rabbi, only a few days ago people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”

After learning that Lazarus was dead and not asleep, as Jesus first referred to him…Thomas said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go too—and die with Jesus.”

Also, in John 14

Jesus tells his disciples in John 14:1-8

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

So we can see that Thomas is a MAN OF FAITH. He has faith…and he’s willing to die for Jesus.

But he fails to understand Jesus’ true mission…just like, mind you, the rest of the disciples.

In John 14, we see him actively questioning Jesus…saying that they have no clue what he is talking about...

And makes Jesus actually spell things out for Thomas...

I AM GOD…you have seen the Father because you have seen me...

We see that Thomas wants to get it…he does… but he needs to understand it…to experience it before he feels he can get it.

Let’s say, that is a condition that can be both a strength and a little bit of a hang up for him…depending.

So, back to our passage today...

A week later, Jesus appears again.

And notice...Thomas’ doubt is not met with condemnation or judgment.

Jesus is not threatened or agitated.

In fact, Jesus gives Thomas exactly what he asks for.

Jesus is gracious with Thomas.

Jesus honors Thomas’ doubt.

Jesus responds with time and space, kindness, and compassion.

In verse 29 (beyond suggested scripture reading), Jesus says to Thomas, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

This verse often leads people to see Thomas’ doubt as a sin and “believing without seeing” as the ideal, preferred way to come to faith.

Whether or not this is true,

Jesus’ response to Thomas’ skepticism transforms him and raises him to a place of trusting belief.

We have been told a lot of things about doubt in our lives.

What are some the things you have learned along the way?

Perhaps that in faith there’s no room for doubt.

Or perhaps your doubt means you don’t have faith.

Or perhaps that doubt shows weakness…

or that you are not faithful enough..

or that doubt is really a disbelief in God that will wind you up in hell.

How has believing this about yourself, if you have, limited you from participation in the community,

and/or affected your ability to be honest about your struggles, or your willingness to put yourselves out there?

Skepticism and doubt can be limiting if we remain stuck in it and ashamed of it.

But for Thomas, the redemption from skepticism came in putting it out in the open,

asking for what he needed,

and allowing the encounter with Jesus to transform him.

His encounter with Jesus in his doubt allows him to believe and propels him to carry out the Jesus’ mission in India for years to come, where he was martyred.

Although scripture does not give us much more detail about Thomas’ story,

we do know that he continued to be among the disciples when the risen Jesus fed them breakfast by the sea (John 21:1-4)

and in the upper room praying after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:12-14).

Not only did Thomas come to believe, but he continued to be one of the twelve apostles of Jesus

and a full member and leader of the early church community.

Sources outside of the Bible indicate that Thomas travelled to India,

preaching the gospel,

and starting the church there before dying for his faith.

Let me briefly read two paragraphs to you written by Timothy Tennent of Seebed.com, and I quote:

Although there are important traditions surrounding the ministries of all the apostles, we will focus this highlight on the St. Thomas mission to India, which is one of the oldest and strongest traditions in church history. The earliest record of the mission of Thomas to India is found in an early manuscript known as the Acts of Thomas, which dates around the turn of the third century. This manuscript records a dramatic moment where the eleven apostles all gathered in Jerusalem and divided the known world into various regions. They then cast lots to determine where each of them would go. India fell to Thomas. According to the account, Thomas objected, saying that because of his “weakness of the flesh” he could not travel. However, Christ appeared to him in a vision and promised to be with him.

Thomas eventually traveled by ship to India along one of the well-established trade routes to India, arriving in AD 52. He preached the gospel in various locations in India and finally suffered martyrdom in India and was buried near modern day Chennai. Although the Acts of Thomas has problems, many historians accept the basic historical nucleus of the account. The Western tradition has a number of corroborating references, and there is also archaeological evidence from India, as well as an independent Indian tradition that chronicles precise numbers of people healed from various diseases and maladies and detailed accounts of those who were converted, including what caste they were from. These sources also give a rich description of the circumstances around the martyrdom of Thomas.

See https://seedbed.com/saint-thomas-preaches-the-gospel-in-india/ for the full article.

Thomas certainly rose strong!

If God could work so powerfully through this once “doubting” disciple,

imagine how God can raise us strong from our places of doubt, skepticism, and other struggles of faith.

God is not done with us yet!

What This Means for You

I want to Invite you all to consider the following:

In a season of doubt, what do you need from God?

[Pause]

How do you ask for what you need, and do you believe God will respond?

[Pause]

What This Means for Us

I want you to consider this:

If we are in a season of doubt, can God still use us?

We are in a season of doubt about our church, its future, and God’s work among us?

Our finances are down, our attendance is down and we are wondering how God will get us through this...

And hopefully wondering how God can use YOU to get us through this.

How can we ask for God’s reassurance or act faithfully in spite of our doubts?

We can volunteer, step up and lead in areas that are suited to our strength, increase our giving...

The skies the limit once you decide to be open with God and step out in faith…just like THOMAS DID...

We too can RISE STRONG.

Also, hoow can we embody the Risen Christ for others in their doubt?

When people encounter you — do they come to believe?

Especially in seasons of loss, grief, and great change,

doubt and skepticism can overwhelm.

How might we help others rise up from doubt to belief?

How can you be the grace-filled response for others that Jesus was for Thomas?

Together, let us open up our hearts to Jesus…put our BELIEF IN HIM…RISE UP STRONG

in FAITH and in Service. Amen? Amen!