Easter 2024
Havasu Christian Church
March 17, 2024
“Three glimpses at Thomas.”
INTRO: Thomas…. He’s one of Jesus’ disciples. But we don’t see him “popping up” in the Gospels like some of the other Disciples do. He’s pretty much in the background… Right up until the last two weeks of Jesus’ earthly Ministry. Then he suddenly comes to the forefront, three different times. And when he does, big things are happening!
- “Thomas, the loyal Pessimist”
- Setting the scene:
- There are about 2 weeks of Jesus’ earthly Ministry before He goes to the cross.
- Jesus has left Jerusalem because it isn’t safe for Him to be there, but now, He’s ready to go back.
John 11:7–16 Then after this He *said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
8 The disciples *said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
10 “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
11 This He said, and after that He *said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”
12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.
14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”
16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
- All the disciples are alarmed!
- Go back to Jerusalem? That’s crazy!
- Jesus explains why they are going.
- Lazarus is “asleep.”
- The disciples take Jesus literally, and He has to be more plain.
- Lazareth is DEAD!
- Jesus says “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”
- This sounds strange to us, and we know what Jesus is going to do.
- He’s going to raise Lazarus. We know because we’ve read ahead!
- The disciples must have been really perplexed!
- They know Jesus could have HEALED Lazarus. But will Jesus be able to raise Lazarus from the dead?
- Jesus has raised a little girl who has just died. (Matthew 9:18 & following)
- Jesus has raised a widow’s son, but he’s not been dead long either. (Luke 7:11 & following)
- It’s a long walk to Bethany, and Jesus was sent for days ago.
- Thomas is afraid, but he’s loyal!
“Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
- Thomas most likely is voicing what everyone else is thinking!
- He’s a pessimist, but he’s a loyal one!
- Thomas is heard from again at the “Last Supper.”
John 14:1–6 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
4 “And you know the way where I am going.”
5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
- Thomas is listening with “earthly ears.”
- Jesus isn’t talking about taking a trip, He’s talking about His death!
- Thomas doesn’t understand Jesus’ meaning.
- He’s willing to ask a question so he knows what’s going on.
- His question brings about an answer that has been cherished since Jesus said it!
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
- We hear from Thomas after the resurrection as well!
John 20:24–29 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
- Thomas isn’t there when Jesus appears!
- He doesn’t believe the other Disciples.
- Even though he’s been following Jesus with them for 3 years.
- The disciples have walked a lot of miles together!
- They’ve followed Jesus together!
- They’ve watched Jesus’ miracles, they’ve sat around the campfire with Him, they’ve listened to Him preach, they’ve even seen Him raise the dead.
- After going through all that together, you’d think that Thomas would believe the other disciples.
- WHY didn’t he believe them?
- Maybe he was from Missouri?? The “Show me” state?
- Maybe there were people in his life as a kid that lied to him?
- Maybe the betrayal of Judas had and effect on him.
- Whatever the reason, Thomas is skeptical!
“Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
- 8 days later, Thomas gets another chance.
- Jesus appears in a closed room.
- He immediately offers to let Thomas examine His wounds.
- Thomas responds, “My Lord and my God!”
- Thomas apparently needed no more convincing!
From gotquestions.org Various historical records and traditions indicate that Thomas traveled by sea to India in AD 52. He was later martyred and buried there after witnessing to the Indian people. The tomb of St. Thomas is in Mylapore, India. A poet, St. Ephrem, recorded in his hymns and poetry that Thomas worked miracles in the Indian city of Edessa. A Syrian ecclesiastical calendar has an entry which reads, “3 July, St. Thomas who was pierced with a lance in ‘India.’ His body is in Urhai (Edessa) having been brought there by the merchant Khabin.” A tradition observed by the people of Edessa honors Thomas, calling him “the Apostle of India.” Many other accounts and traditions mention Thomas in connection with India.
While these accounts and documents are compelling, there is no way to be absolutely certain that Thomas took the gospel to India. Based on the biblical record, we can be sure that Thomas did exist as one of Jesus’ disciples, that he was a faithful follower of Christ, and that he proclaimed Christ’s deity (John 11:16; 14:5; 20:24–29). Outside of that, there is no way to be entirely sure. It is possible, likely even, that Thomas took the gospel to India—there is no reason why he could not have done so—but there is no way to be absolutely sure the extra-biblical histories are correct. Since none of the accounts are recorded in the authoritative and inerrant Word of God, some of the stories of Thomas may be embellished; others may be entirely the product of legend.
Conclusion: What have we learned about Thomas today that matters to my life??
- Thomas is LOYAL!
- He may have been “an Eeyore” but he is a faithful man. He’s isn’t just “talking a good game.” The threat to Jesus and all of them was VERY REAL!
- You can be loyal to Jesus, regardless of whether you are an optimist, or a pessimist. Whether you are jubilant or depressed.
- You simply decide to trust Jesus!
- Thomas WANTS to UNDERSTAND!
- When Jesus says something perplexing, Thomas doesn’t wait for someone else to ask the question! He does it himself!
- Many times we stay ignorant because we are too embarrassed to ask!
- “Someone may laugh at me…”
- “Someone may think I’m not very smart.”
- Someone else is probably wishing they had the courage to ask that question!
- Be the one brave enough to ask!
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
- Thomas may be skeptical, but once he is confronted with the truth, HE BELIEVES IT!
- On the day of Pentecost, in spite of the danger, he and the other Apostles stand up and proclaim Jesus!
- About 3000 people give Jesus their lives, and the Church is born!
- Jesus said “Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” That’s you and me!
- There’s plenty of evidence for Jesus being Who He really is! We don’t need to touch the nail prints, or the wound in His side!
I also want us to take a look at Jesus through the life of Thomas. What can we learn about Him?
- Jesus is worthy of our loyalty!
- He lived His life in a way that was morally perfect!
- He is God in a human body.
- He gave up all the Power and Glory of being God, but His character did not change.
- Jesus wants Thomas to understand!
- You and I might have gotten frustrated with the disciples… “Why don’t you get it???”
- But Jesus is the teacher that truly wants His students to learn!
- Jesus REALLY rose from the dead!
- It wasn’t fiction.
- It isn’t a fairy tale.
- The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the best attested event in human history!
- You had better believe it!
