Hiding Behind Locked Doors

Sorrow

Fear

Confusion

- Jesus IS the Messiah . . . Right?

How could HE die?

Where did the body go?

Excitement AND Confusion

Mary said WHAT?

John 20:17–18 CSB

“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.

Remembering?

Did Jesus talk about this?

Overwhelmed and Afraid

This is something I think we can all relate to.

John 20:19 CSB

When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews.

They were afraid!

John 20:19 CSB

Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

John 20:20 CSB

Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Commissioned IN THE MIDST OF Fear!

John 20:21–23 CSB

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Jesus reaches us in our doubt

John 20:24–25 CSB

But Thomas (called “Twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

makes sense if you think about it!

John 20:26–29 CSB

A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.” Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Now I don’t want you to give Thomas a hard time. We often call Thomas “Doubting Thomas”; but there is a HUGE reality that we need to acknowledge:

WE ARE JUST LIKE THOMAS!

What do we say, or at least how do we act?

If I just had PROOF!

Oh i could believe if I just had proof.

I would step out on faith if I just had proof.

But notice what Jesus did:

“Put your finger HERE and look at my hands. Reach out you hand and put it in my side.”

WHY? Because THAT’s what Thomas needed. Literally, EVERYTHING Thomas said he needed to believe, Jesus granted.

And Jesus doesn’t scold Thomas.

Jesus says: Don’t be faithless, but BELIEVE.

Check this out: 2 sides of 1 word

Don’t be opistos, but be pistos.

Opistos - lack of belief or trust - word often describe an unbeliever

pistos - belief, trust, AND RELIANCE!

Hebrews 11:1 CSB

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

Faith - pistis - STRONG CONFIDENCE and RELIANCE

ASSURANCE

Confidence

We see the word over and over again used.

Jesus tells Thomas - don’t lose your faith, but have absolute confidence and assurance in what you see, you can rely on me!

That’s what Jesus tells Thomas.

And then Jesus turns and says something to YOU AND ME:

John 20:29 CSB

Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

See Jesus speaks to the disciples, then He speaks to Thomas, and then, TELLING THOMAS, Jesus is speaking to you and to me, and ABOUT you and me:

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.

This is not scolding Thomas, this is telling US that we are blessed.

I promise you a few things:

Jesus knew you would have difficulties in this world.

and he promised:

John 16:33 CSB

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

You will even have struggles with friends and family.

Colossians 3:13 CSB

bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.

There are going to be times when you are on the emotional roller coaster:

Sorrow, fear, confusion, excitement and confusion!

Hebrews 11:1 CSB

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

2 Corinthians 5:7 CSB

For we walk by faith, not by sight.