Thomas' Encounter with the Risen Jesus

I. Introduction

Jesus began to appear to his disciples after He had been raised from the dead. We saw a few weeks ago how he appeared to Mary Magdalene, then to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and last then to the Eleven minus one who were hiding in a locked room for fear of the Jews. Their grief, sorrow, perplexity, and their fear had been radically changed to hope, joy, insight, and boldness as they began to proclaim that they had seen the Lord. Today, we look at Thomas, one of the disciples who wasn’t present when the other apostles had been visited by the risen Jesus in John 20:24-31.

II. Absent and Obstinate (John 20:24-25)

A. Thomas wasn’t there last week. (v. 24)

B. The other disciples kept telling Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” (v. 25a)

Luke 24:9–12 ESV

9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

John 20:8 ESV

8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

C. Thomas was obstinate that “Unless I see, and place…I will never believe.” (v. 25b)

III. Jesus appears and removes all doubt. (vs. 26-27)

A. Eighty days later the disciples were behind locked doors again. (v. 26)

B. Jesus appeared again.

C. Peace be with you.

D. Jesus addressed Thomas directly. (v. 27)

1. Put your finger here, see my hands, place it in my side.

Luke 24:39 ESV

39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

2. Stop being unbelieving, but believing.

IV. Thomas’ great confession (v. 28)

A. Thomas answered Jesus,

Quote: The most unyielding sceptic has bequeathed to us the most profound confession.

D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 659.

1. My Lord

Most frequently translated as Lord, Owner, and Master

"One who is in a position of authority” (BDAG)

Acts 10:36 ESV

36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

Jude 4 ESV

4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:22–4:1 ESV

22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2. My God

For a devout Jew to affirm that any man standing in front of him is ‘God’ is unthinkable!

Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

1 Corinthians 8:6 ESV

6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Acts 2:36 ESV

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

B. Jesus affirms a blessing on believers. (v. 29)

#5 Below is an addendum that I will probably not exegete but may use in a closing invitation!

V. The purpose of John’s gospel

A. Jesus did many other things not written in John’s gospel

B. This brief account exists so that people may believe:

1. Jesus is the Christ

2. Jesus is the Son of God

3. By believing in Jesus, people will have life in Jesus’ name.