Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• We come to a passage all abut doubt and unbelief
• We will look at doubting Thomas
• Every one is a believer - they believe in something
• Even an atheist has ascertains and beliefs
• Even an agnostic has ascertains and beliefs
• Many people in the world would say they believe in a deity
• Many do not believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son and the way, the truth and the life
• Many people are born into a belief
• People way up the evidence around them and come to their own decision
• People can change their beliefs
• What about Thomas?
• He didn't always believe that Jesus was the Messiah
• There came a point in his life where he gave up everything to become a follower of the Lord Jesus
• We must not assume that before this point and thinking Thomas was an unbeliever (v27)
• The New Testament teaches that Thomas was a believer
  • John 17
• The washing of the feet
• Here he is an unbelieving believer - he has begun to stumble as he has become so dejected and despondent
• Overview:
• Why did it happen?
• What is it like to be in this state today?
• How does the Lord respond?

Why did it happen?

• He was distraught
• Hope deferred makes the heart sick
• He didn't understand it

His absence

• When Jesus appeared to the other disciples Thomas was absent
• Would the other disciples have believed if they had not seen Jesus?
• They did not believe the testimony of the women?
• Why was he absent?
• He appeared first to the women
• He appeared to the two on the road to Emmaus
• Maybe part of his personality - he was very pessimistic
• Perhaps he was no longer with the disciples
• Does this happen to people today?

His pride

• Because of his own human pride
• Would these people lie to him?
• Why would he doubt his friends?
• He stubborn in his unbelief

His pessimism

• Pessimism
• John 11:16 - He thinks negatively
• John 14:4-5 - He is honest but negative
• v25 - I must have evidence
• Very rarely does God give atheists evidence - cf Luke 16
• Here the Lord is very gracious to Thomas
• JC Ryle Quote
• The Lord was humbling Thomas
• v27

What is it like to be in this state today?

• It does not mean that you have fallen from grace
• A Christian cannot fall from grace
• It does mean you are a very sad Christian
• You may feel that no-one else ought to be rejoicing
• The Bible says "Rejoice in the Lord and again I say Rejoice"
• The disciples were rejoicing and glad (v20)
• A low Christian
• Cannot be an evangelist
• Cannot share the word with vigour
• Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit (v22)
• He gave them authority to forgive and retain sins
• Explanation
• Thomas missed out on the blessing
• It was 8 days since Jesus had appeared to the apostles
• How had Thomas felt for this week?
• To be in this situation is to doubt the power, goodness and purpose of God
• Consider John the Baptist and Elijah
• Christians can come to a time of great questioning
• Consider the Psalms and David
• We need to turn back to God's word at this time
• We must hold up the shield of faith
• We need to pray

How does the Lord respond?

• v27
• He is kind to Thomas
• He shows perfect knowledge
• He knew Thomas was doubting
• He knows how we react
• How do we react to other Christians?
• Do we show comfort to others?
• Jesus is a comforter
• Thomas' response - "My Lord and My God"(v28)
• It is a personal response
• v30-31
• Do we believe?
• If we believe we have eternal life
• Example
• We do not wait for a miraculous experience but believe God's word

Closing Remarks