John 20:24-29Comfort for a Quarantined Church
Notes
Transcript
24 But one of the Twelve, Thomas (called “Twin”), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have 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!”
26 After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!”
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”
28 Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.”
Comfort for a Quarantined Church
Comfort for a Quarantined Church
Intro:
Intro:
When Jesus visited His followers huddled in their secret room, Thomas was absent. Sometime after Jesus’ crucifixion, he may have returned to his home in Galilee. Who knows where he went but we do know he wasn’t in the assembly. Upon his return to Jerusalem, he heard stories of Jesus’ resurrection from the other followers; however, he refused to believe their testimony—including that of Peter and John! This has earned Thomas the nickname “doubting,” Thomas.
When Jesus visited His followers huddled in their secret room, Thomas was absent. Sometime after Jesus’ crucifixion, he may have returned to his home in Galilee. Who knows where he went but we do know he wasn’t in the assembly. Upon his return to Jerusalem, he heard stories of Jesus’ resurrection from the other followers; however, he refused to believe their testimony—including that of Peter and John! This has earned Thomas the nickname “doubting,” Thomas.
The only recorded statements of Thomas reveal a downcast, pitiful outlook:
The only recorded statements of Thomas reveal a downcast, pitiful outlook:
“Let us also go, so that we may die with Him” (11:16).
“Let us also go, so that we may die with Him” (11:16).
“Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” (14:5).
“Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” (14:5).
When Thomas returns, the disciples tell him, "We have seen the Lord." The word "said" is in the imperfect tense which means "they kept on saying." The statement, "We have seen the Lord!"
When Thomas returns, the disciples tell him, "We have seen the Lord." The word "said" is in the imperfect tense which means "they kept on saying." The statement, "We have seen the Lord!"
Thomas wanted concrete proof, not to satisfy his doubt, but to overcome his hopelessness. He said, in effect, “Risen? This is too good to be true. I will not allow myself to hope until I can be sure my hope will not be dashed.”
Thomas wanted concrete proof, not to satisfy his doubt, but to overcome his hopelessness. He said, in effect, “Risen? This is too good to be true. I will not allow myself to hope until I can be sure my hope will not be dashed.”
I. The Lord came to The Lord Address
I. The Lord came to The Lord Address
26 After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!”
But John moved on to show us doubting alleviated. In spite of what he had said, Thomas at least joined the Sunday evening service a week later. Again, in spite of locked doors, Jesus appeared and greeted them exactly as he had a week earlier. The following account takes pains to show us that Thomas's experience is very much like that of the other disciples. Once again it is the day after the Sabbath (20:26a), that is, Sunday one week later Again the disciples are in a room with the doors shut, and Jesus appears to them and greets them. All of this carefully duplicates what transpired on Easter Sunday (20:19-23).
26 After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!”
But John moved on to show us doubting alleviated. In spite of what he had said, Thomas at least joined the Sunday evening service a week later. Again, in spite of locked doors, Jesus appeared and greeted them exactly as he had a week earlier. The following account takes pains to show us that Thomas's experience is very much like that of the other disciples. Once again it is the day after the Sabbath (20:26a), that is, Sunday one week later Again the disciples are in a room with the doors shut, and Jesus appears to them and greets them. All of this carefully duplicates what transpired on Easter Sunday (20:19-23).
II. The Lord Came with Assurance
II. The Lord Came with Assurance
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”
But rather than showing his hands and side to the entire group, he turned to Thomas and invited empirical investigation. Sincere Christianity has always welcomed sincere research. Jesus did not scold Thomas or condemn his hesitation. He provided the evidence. Only then did he say to him, Stop doubting and believe.
But rather than showing his hands and side to the entire group, he turned to Thomas and invited empirical investigation. Sincere Christianity has always welcomed sincere research. Jesus did not scold Thomas or condemn his hesitation. He provided the evidence. Only then did he say to him, Stop doubting and believe.
Jesus warned and called for belief. Thomas had been walking down a dangerous road. The disciples had witnessed to him time and again, but he had refused time and again to accept their testimony.
Jesus warned and called for belief. Thomas had been walking down a dangerous road. The disciples had witnessed to him time and again, but he had refused time and again to accept their testimony.
⇒ "Be not faithless" (mē ginou apistos PWS: 1434): stop becoming an unbeliever. You are running the risk of becoming faithless and unbelieving, beyond the point of believing. You have carried your unbelief too far. It is now time to stop the foolishness. The others have been witnessing and witnessing the truth to you. Stop the stiffnecked, obstinate unbelief. You are in danger.
⇒ "Be not faithless" (mē ginou apistos PWS: 1434): stop becoming an unbeliever. You are running the risk of becoming faithless and unbelieving, beyond the point of believing. You have carried your unbelief too far. It is now time to stop the foolishness. The others have been witnessing and witnessing the truth to you. Stop the stiffnecked, obstinate unbelief. You are in danger.
Illustration:
Illustration:
Raise the Flag
Raise the Flag
A small Norwegian vessel lay in an English port for several days. One of those days happened to be Good Friday, and the chief officer carelessly said to the captain, “Shall I hoist the flag at half mast today?” The captain had no context for the question, and asked the officer why he would do that. “Well,” said the officer, “they say Jesus died on this day.”
A small Norwegian vessel lay in an English port for several days. One of those days happened to be Good Friday, and the chief officer carelessly said to the captain, “Shall I hoist the flag at half mast today?” The captain had no context for the question, and asked the officer why he would do that. “Well,” said the officer, “they say Jesus died on this day.”
An interesting gesture, and one certainly more common to an earlier era of human life, but in this particular case the captain was a Christian. He immediately responded, “Jesus, my Savior is a living Savior, not a dead one; if you put the flag out at all, you must hoist it right to the top of the mast.”
An interesting gesture, and one certainly more common to an earlier era of human life, but in this particular case the captain was a Christian. He immediately responded, “Jesus, my Savior is a living Savior, not a dead one; if you put the flag out at all, you must hoist it right to the top of the mast.”
The twentieth chapter of John contains a twofold message. To unbelievers it says, “Stop doubting and believe.” There is no question that John’s powerful Gospel aims its primary ammunition at people who need to come to faith, and this chapter is clearly the capstone.
The twentieth chapter of John contains a twofold message. To unbelievers it says, “Stop doubting and believe.” There is no question that John’s powerful Gospel aims its primary ammunition at people who need to come to faith, and this chapter is clearly the capstone.
But while offering an apologetic for consideration by unbelievers, John also provided an affirmation for his fellow believers. We are reminded of our witnessing role, a representation of the Savior in life.
But while offering an apologetic for consideration by unbelievers, John also provided an affirmation for his fellow believers. We are reminded of our witnessing role, a representation of the Savior in life.
Holman New Testament Commentary: John Applications
APPLICATIONS
• Allow the reality of the living Lord to handle your hesitation to obey him in everything.
• When believers gather, be present in faith and expectation.
• In the tough days remember that Jesus said, “Peace be with you!”
• Never forget Jesus’ promise, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Life Application:
Life Application:
When Thomas returns, the disciples tell him, "We have seen the Lord." The word "said" is in the imperfect tense which means "they kept on saying." The statement, "We have seen the Lord!"
When Thomas returns, the disciples tell him, "We have seen the Lord." The word "said" is in the imperfect tense which means "they kept on saying." The statement, "We have seen the Lord!"
Will We Be Like Thomas?
Will We Be Like Thomas?
Imminency & Importance—It demanded urgency in telling it.
Imminency & Importance—It demanded urgency in telling it.
Influence & Impact—This meeting had a great effect upon them.
Influence & Impact—This meeting had a great effect upon them.
Intensity—This is seen in the continual repetition of the message.
Intensity—This is seen in the continual repetition of the message.
Ignorance—Thomas was absent when Christ appeared.
Ignorance—Thomas was absent when Christ appeared.
We should be sharing the same message with this world.
We should be sharing the same message with this world.
The world is ignorant of Christ. They do not know Him.
The world is ignorant of Christ. They do not know Him.
The influence and impact of Christ on our lives should motivate us to tell others about Him.
The influence and impact of Christ on our lives should motivate us to tell others about Him.
The importance of the return of Christ or our death should demand urgency in sharing the Gospel.
The importance of the return of Christ or our death should demand urgency in sharing the Gospel.
We should be intense in telling it over and over again.
We should be intense in telling it over and over again.
III. The Lord Changed The Atmosphere
III. The Lord Changed The Atmosphere
28 Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
28 Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Thomas saw Jesus and believed. He says, "My Lord and my God." Thomas was the only one on record who made a statement like this. It is the last testimony of the deity of Christ in John. It is a statement of recognition, submission, and enlightenment. Thomas' life was changed. He went on to do great things for the Lord Jesus Christ. Historical tradition states that Thomas went to India in 52 a.d. God used him to establish seven churches. The effects of that ministry still exist today. He was martyred by a fanatic in 72 a.d.
Thomas saw Jesus and believed. He says, "My Lord and my God." Thomas was the only one on record who made a statement like this. It is the last testimony of the deity of Christ in John. It is a statement of recognition, submission, and enlightenment. Thomas' life was changed. He went on to do great things for the Lord Jesus Christ. Historical tradition states that Thomas went to India in 52 a.d. God used him to establish seven churches. The effects of that ministry still exist today. He was martyred by a fanatic in 72 a.d.
Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary - John.
Kenneth O. Gangel, John, vol. 4, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 373.
Treasures From the Scriptures - Treasures from John, Volume 2.
NIV Application Commentary, The - John: From biblical text...to contemporary life.
Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - John.