Doubting Thomas Believes

Lesson #332

We left Thomas saying to the other disciples, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” But then, “Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”” (John 20:26 ESV).

Eight days later is the way Jews spoke of a week; like counting from Sunday to Sunday, starting with Sunday as one. Jesus appeared to Mary and then to the ten disciples on Sunday and then one week later, on Sunday, Jesus appeared to the eleven as Thomas was with them this time. Why was Thomas among them? Maybe the ten who believed felt it was important to meet on Sunday and maybe they believed Jesus might appear again, so maybe they persuaded Thomas to join then that day.

As before, the disciples were in a room behind locked doors for fear of the Jews as well as privacy for their time of conversation and possible devotion. Jesus promised that “. . . where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20 ESV). The disciples were together and Jesus appeared in their midst physically because he had not yet ascended to his Father. When we come together, Jesus is in our midst in the Spirit.

Gathered together in that room were ten believers and one of unbelief with set conditions to be met before he would believe. Jesus was willing to appear with Thomas there and meet his conditions. We might be surprised how many people have barriers set up that God has to overcome to reach his loss sheep. As before, Jesus simple appeared and said, “Peace be with you.”

It is now time for Jesus to deal with doubting Thomas. “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” (John 20:27 ESV). This appearance of Jesus was primarily for the sake of Thomas. Jesus knew the conditions of belief Thomas had set up and he now addresses them. He instructs Thomas to do exactly what Thomas had required and as a result the impact would be immediate and powerful. “Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 ESV). Without examining his hands and side, Thomas stood there, ashamed of his unbelief, he now responds in belief, referring to Jesus as his Lord and his God. Thomas did not doubt now that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as he said he would.

“Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 ESV). Thomas believed because he physically saw Jesus. Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and many in the middle east are encountering Jesus in dreams and visions, but most will come to belief upon hearing the gospel. Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Prayer

Father, if there are readers of this Bible study, like Thomas, who have conditions that need to be met before they would believe, I pray that they would ask the Lord to show them what they need to see or hear to believe. Father, for those who believe, I pray that these studies are found to be helpful in learning more about Jesus and growing spiritually. Thank you for teaching me as I study and write and that I can share these studies with people found in many different places and many different conditions around the world. Father, I pray for any needs they have at this time. 

Sent Out with Power

Lesson #330

We ended the previous lesson with a command from Jesus: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” This was a command to his disciples, but as they go and make disciples, then those disciples are to make disciples and thus we are to go and make disciples. Jesus knows them, and us, will need help in being a witness and so he provides that help.

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22 ESV). In Genesis 2:7 (ESV) “the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Here Jesus breathed on them, possibly to suggest a new creation as in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” That new is very special because of what it is and who dwells in it. In 1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV) we find out what that is: “. . .  do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” God used to dwell in a temple of stone built by men, but now God dwells within this new creation in Christ. We are a new creature, empowered by the Holy Spirit, setting us apart from unbelievers, able to understand spiritual things, which are foolishness to those without the Spirit. With this understanding and power, we are equipped to go and share the gospel and make disciples of those who believe. The question is, “Are you willing to be obedient and Go?”

The instruction Jesus gave to the disciples had another part to it. He said: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld” (John 20:23 ESV). What did Jesus mean by this statement? One thing is clear from Mark 2:7 that only God can forgive sins. If we say we can then we are guilty of blaspheming. So then, what is the meaning? “The expressions ‘they are forgiven’ and ‘it is withheld’ both represent perfect-tense words in Greek and could be translated, ‘they have been forgiven’ and ‘it has been withheld’, since the perfect gives the sense of completed past action with continuing results in the present.” (Footnote on John 20:23 in the ESV Study Bible, copyright 2008 by Crossway Bibles). The idea is that as the gospel is proclaimed, those who believe and are born again are forgiven their sin, but those who do not believe remain in their sin, unforgiven, under the wrath of God. Since we are chosen by God the Father before the foundation of the world, and then through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our being forgiven or not has already been determined. Our part in this is to share the gospel to find these lost sheep who are granted forgiveness. I pray this gives some understanding.

Prayer

Father, I find it interesting that in the creation of man, Jesus breathed life into that physical body and here with the disciples he is breathing spiritual life into them, and thus us, as a new creation in Christ. It is that second breath that is so critical, for without it we are left spiritually dead. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that life is breathed into us as the Father causes one to be born spiritually. That breath is the gift of eternal life. Father, thank you. 

It Is You! You are Alive!

Lesson #329

We finished the previous lesson with the appearance of Jesus to his disciples who were hiding behind closed and locked doors. “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” John doesn’t explain what he means by “Jesus came” and stood among them and as a result there is a difference of opinion about how Jesus got into the room. It is very simple. He just appeared and he said to them: “Peace be with you.” “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20 ESV).

In a kind, tender and affectionate manner, Jesus instructs them to be at peace and come and look at his hands and side to see the marks of crucifixion. Except for the nail marks and the spear wound, Jesus stands before them with a restored physical body, but not yet clothed with glory. He wants his disciples to be sure they understand this is the same body that hung and died on the cross and is now alive. Having those marks is important as they are evidence that this resurrected Jesus is the one who was crucified on the cross for their sin. This evidence will be very important when the Jews will one day see and realize that the One they hung on the cross for blasphemy and crucified was indeed their Messiah. The disciples saw the marks and were glad to know that the person they had lived with for three years and explained to them that he would die for their sin and would rise again. He now gives them proof that he has overcome death and that anyone who is born spiritually will also rise from the grave.

“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”” (John 20:21 ESV).  Jesus knows there are difficult times ahead for the disciples and so he again said to them, “Peace be with you.” But just as Jesus, God’s Son, was sent on assignment with a message and a job to do, so he sends his disciples on assignment and thus us also. Paul makes this very clear: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8 – 10 ESV). Jesus will strengthen this command later, but for now he tells them there is work to do, which can’t be done filled with fear sitting behind closed and locked doors. What closed and locked door are we sitting behind or are we out on our assignment?

Jesus was sent by the Father to explain in word and by miracles that he was the way and the truth and the life, and that he was going to the cross as God’s perfect sacrifice to purchase our salvation. As believers, we are to go and explain to others this message.

Prayer

Father, what an amazing moment that must have been for the disciples to have Jesus appear in the room with them. I wonder what they had to say. What assurance that must have given them; what hope. Jesus appeared to them once before, like a ghost, walking on water during a great storm, but now their assurance of eternal life stands before them as their resurrected savior. Father, what joy and excitement to have spent two years of study and walked with Jesus and now meet him in the room with the disciples. Father, I must go and write more Bible studies to send out into the world, where I can’t go now, to share the message of salvation and help train up disciples.