Building Biblical Character Through Knowing Bible Characters-In the footsteps of Thomas...

Building Biblical Character Through Knowing Bible Characters - In the footsteps of Thomas...

Summary: Today we’re going to look at a disciple whose gotten worse press than any but Judas, but he was actually one of the most outstanding of the Apostles.Having born in India India and seeing the impact that Thomas had and is still having on this land I wanted to find out who Thomas was from a biblical point of view and see some of his motivations.

Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5-8, John 20:19-30

Date: 15, November 2015
from the Series  “Building Biblical Character Through Knowing Bible Characters”

INTRODUCTION

Today is our Seventh part in the series, “Building Biblical Character Through Knowing Bible Characters” These Twelve men, like us, all had their strengths and weaknesses. As we study them, we see how Jesus worked with them to help them grow in faith and courage. Consider the impact of Jesus on history. Someone has pointed out:

“Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3, yet the influence of Christ’s 3 year ministry is greater than the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all time. Jesus painted no pictures; yet, some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world’s greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the music they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by Jesus Christ.”

(Henry G. Bosch. Illustration 2679 in Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations. Paul Lee Tan) 

Though, Jesus' Impact was doubted  by one his very own close aide...

Let’s suppose this morning that we could read the headlines that would have taken place in the week after that first Easter. What would the headlines have looked like if there were a Jerusalem Post in first century Palestine? Possibly the following:

“CRUCIFIED JESUS REPORTED TO BE ALIVE”

“ONE DISCIPLE HAS DOUBTS”

The first story, depending on the perspective of the writer, might have tried to explain away the reports of Jesus sightings. The writer might have expounded some theories on what really happened.

The Swoon Theory

This theory claims that Jesus didn’t really die, he just swooned on the cross. Christ was nailed to a cross and suffered from shock, pain and loss of blood. But the proponents of this theory claim that instead of actually dying, He only swooned. That when He was placed in the tomb, He was still alive and Joseph, mistaking Him for dead, buried Him alive.

This theory completely ignores the evidences of His death and would require a greater miracle than the resurrection. Read John 19:31-35 then Mark 15:43-45.  

These theorists claim that the cool, damp air in the tomb actually healed Jesus. Of course, then Jesus would have had to perform the miracle of escaping from the tightly wound wrappings, pushing away the heavy stone, overpowering the two guards. And He still would have been half dead. In His weakened condition He could not have walked the seven miles on the Emmaus road. Christ died. He was dead in the judgment of the soldiers, in the judgment of Pilate, in the judgment of the Jews who requested the guard for the tomb, and in the judgment of the women who went to the tomb to further prepare the body.

The Hallucination Theory

This theory says all of Christ’s post-resurrection appearances were because the people had hallucinations. The big question is how could so many people have hallucinations under different conditions and spread out over different times? And 500 at one time?The hallucination theory doesn't work because it contradicts laws and principles which psychiatrists say are essential to hallucinations. Psychiatrists claim only certain kinds of people have hallucinations: high-strung, highly imaginative, and very nervous people. In fact, usually only paranoid or schizophrenic individuals have hallucinations. Hard to believe that all of those who saw Jesus were paranoid or schizophrenic. Psychiatrists also say hallucinations are linked in an individual’s subconscious--to particular past experiences and this was certainly not a part of any past experience.

The Impersonation Theory

This is the theory that it was really someone impersonating Jesus. They argue this angle because they didn't recognize Him at first (or at all). The problem with this theory is that it would have been impossible to impersonate Christ’s wounds. Maybe in Hollywood today. This was Christ’s proof to Thomas that it was really Him. Also, remember that these guys had been with Jesus for three years.

Ill. In a Peanuts comic strip, Charlie Brown is talking with Lucy as they walk home on the last day of school. Charlie Brown says to Lucy: “Lucy, I got straight A’s. isn't that great!” Lucy in her typical fashion shoots down poor Charlie Brown and says: I don’t believe you Charlie Brown. Unless you show me your report card, I cannot believe you.”Can you relate to Lucy? Seeing is believing, isn't it? Most people have to see something before they can believe it. My brother always used to tell me: don’t believe everything that you hear and only half of what you see. This is often how we describe the apostle Thomas but is this really accurate?

Let me ask you a few questions:

Have you ever felt like you missed something big that everyone else seemed to know? Have you ever felt like you were not spiritual enough because of your past failures? Have you ever felt like you could really believe even more in Jesus if you could just catch a glimpse of Him? If you have ever felt this or anything like this you would be in good company with Thomas.

Scripture Reading:

 

Keeping this in mind, Rise to your feet and turn with me to Jeremiah 17:5-8 and John 20:19-30  First,  

Jeremiah 17:5-8 

5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.8 He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." 

John 20:19-30 

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the.(NIV) 

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. May the sweet Holy Spirit add His manifold blessings to our text this morning... in our hearing. Amen! You may be seated in God's Presence.

 

Sermon

It seems fairly clear from historical evidence that Thomas was in India from 58 AD until he was martyred in 72 AD. The Church in Southern India was it seems founded by Him, and He is supposedly buried in Madras now it is Chennai at the Church of St Thomas. So what was it that drove Thomas to leave all He knew and travel a vast distance and die for the cause?

He is often labeled doubting Thomas, but the evidence in India would suggest He doesn't deserve this label. I had the privilege to go up to the point where he was murdered for the cause of Christ. It is a very high hill where he used to go and pray and also lived in a cave nearby. From a strategic point of view there would be no better position to pray from, as you can see the entire region.   

This morning I want to look at the nature of the Apostle Thomas as much as we can from the scripture. Thomas has been given a fairly difficult stereotype through the centuries because he so often is referred to as doubting Thomas but I do not believe that the title truly fits this man. So let’s take a few moments to clear the air and see what we really know about Thomas as we follow... 

 In the footsteps of Thomas.

I. DEDICATED LEADER AMONG THE APOSTLES

A. CLOSE TO THE INNER CIRCLE

1. Thomas Didymus lived in Galilee. Thomas was his Hebrew name and Didymus was his Greek name. Both names mean “twin.” 
2. Matthew, Mark and Luke only mention Thomas when they name the Twelve apostles (Matt. 10:3, Mark. 3:18, Luke. 6:15).
3. But there are signs that Thomas was one of the more influential apostles. 
4. For starters, the Apostle John mentions him seven times in his Gospel. After Jesus’ resurrection, when Peter declared he would go fishing again, only Four other apostles went with him (and 2 unnamed disciples): James and John, Nathanael, and Thomas. 
5. Unless Thomas had been close to Peter, James, and John, he probably wouldn't have felt comfortable volunteering himself to accompany them.

B. READY TO DIE WITH JESUS

1. In John 10 the Jewish leaders had become increasingly belligerent. 
2. They slandered Jesus saying he was demon-possessed (10:20), they attempted to stone Him but couldn't (10:31), and at last they tried to seize Him (10:39). Jesus had to flee for His life across the Jordan River to where John had been baptizing. 
3. When Lazarus was dying, Mary and Martha sent word of it to Jesus there (11:3). After Four days, Jesus stated His intention to return to where they were trying to kill Him, to (heal) Lazarus. 
4. John 11:16, “Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’” 
5. Thomas shows his love for Jesus, his devotion, and his courage by determining to die with Jesus. 

Alfred Edersheim also believes

this shows Thomas’ leadership among the apostles, since he makes the decision they would accompany Jesus

 (Life & Times of Jesus the Messiah, Vol. 2, p. 315).

Thomas was willing to risk death to follow Jesus

Do you have that same passion to follow Jesus?

Do you have that same desire to follow Jesus?

Do you have the same boldness to follow Jesus?

C. NOT WANTING TO BE SEPARATED FROM JESUS

1. In the Upper Room, after Jesus had washed their feet 

And they had eaten the Passover/ Last Supper together (Judas had left), Jesus began to tell them that He was going away and they couldn't come with Him.

2. This was devastating news to men who’d left all behind to follow Him. 

One of the Four apostles who expressed his heartbreak at this news was Thomas, who in John 14:5 asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

3. In answer to Thomas’ question, Jesus uttered one of the most important sayings in the Bible;

“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John. 14:6). 

Jesus just gets done giving the disciples some comfort. Let us be honest, if this was the first time you heard about all this you would be confused too. I can see the disciples sitting around and shake there head and pretending they understand what Jesus was talking about

a) I get that look from time and time when I am preaching, I don’t think you understand what I am saying but you smile and nod anyways J

Thomas raises his hand and says Lord I don’t get it. I am confused. Help me understand. Notice Jesus did not rebuke Thomas. Jesus did not make fun of him for his honest question. Jesus used a different way and expanded on some things to answer the questions that Thomas had the rest of the disciples in their mind I am sure they were saying thank you Thomas for asking that question. What can we learn from this? You know one of the biggest misconceptions that we have been taught is questions are wrong, Honest questions are not sin. To want better understanding of a situation is not a sin. There are something that we do not understand at first Be willing to ask the questions, be willing to examine things, figure out what exactly is going on

4. Thomas’ motivating desire was that he didn't want to be separated from Jesus.

 

I. DEDICATED LEADER AMONG THE APOSTLES

II. HIS DOUBT OF THE RESURRECTION

A. CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING UP TO IT

1. Just as the arrest, crucifixion, and death of Jesus sent the other apostles into fear, depression, and discouragement, Thomas also experienced the defeat of his hopes centered in Jesus.

2. Thomas’ dedication turned to bitter finality that Jesus was dead and would never come back. He became pessimistic of any hope of resurrection.

3. He greeted claims of angels with skepticism. Thomas probably responded to reports of sightings of Jesus as risen with, "Maybe they hallucinated" or "Maybe they saw someone that looked like Him.”

4. But there were at least five resurrection appearances during this time:

a. To Mary Magdalene, Mark. 16:9; John. 20:11-17.

b. 2 Other Women told by Angel, Mt. 28:8-10, Mark. 16:1,6.

c. To Peter, Luke. 24:34, 1 Cor. 15:5.

d. The The Disciples of Emmaus, Mark. 16:12-13; Luke. 24:13-35.

e. The 10 Apostles, Thomas absent, Lk. 24:36-48; John. 20:19-25; 1 Cor. 15:5.

5. Up to this moment there had been 15 people (Peter mentioned 2x) that had seen Christ or been told of His resurrection by an Angel.

Now and then we here some pessimistic skeptic declare that he or she could believe in God if the Lord would only send a SIGN.

Frederick Buechner, novelist and sometime preacher, has posed the question, “why doesn't God send us a sign to dispel all our doubts, such as a message in the sky, written by the rearrangement of the universe, with suns and moons to dot the “i’s” and cross the “t’s”, so that the night sky would read, “I Am God! I Really Do Exist!!!!”

Woody Allen, the well-known comedian, has said that he would believe in God if God would send him a sign – such as making a large deposit in a Bank Account under the name, “Woody Allen.”

There is nothing new about this desire to have a sign from God. We want confirmation for the things we believe.

6. DOUBTING THOMAS IMAGE: CARTOON 

Thomas got a bum rap as a doubter. He was no more a doubter than the other disciples were. But I think the greatest doubters are those who ascribe to the theories that I described earlier. It’s easy to criticize what you don’t understand. And it’s easier to be critical than to be correct. 'I doubt it, but I'll try.' This was the phrase used every week by Doubting Thomas - a young lad with a Biblical name and a curl of hair in the shape of a question mark - whenever he was asked to tackle any task. It’s unfortunate that Thomas is only remembered for one trait. But with good reason. Fortunately, Jesus was very patient with him, and with us too!

Two taxidermists stopped in front of a window where an owl was on display. They immediately began to criticize the way it was mounted. Its eyes were not natural; its wings were not in proportion with its head; its feathers were not neatly arranged; and its feet could be improved. Just when they had finished with their criticism, the owl turned his head... and blinked. It’s easier to be critical than correct.

B. THOMAS’ DEMANDS OF PROOF

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29.

1. THE GALL OF THOMAS

It was very ‘nervy’ for him to dictate the terms upon which he is going to believe and to choose the terms most offensive to Christ! Who was Thomas that he should put his hands into those wounds so recently healed? Would he reopen the wound to Christ's heart? Was there no other way of believing than to poke his Lord’s wounds? Why would Thomas ask such a thing? 

2. Because he'd seen Jesus’ torn and obliterated body. 

Like a man who’d been in a 1962 battle and seen his friend blown apart. Thomas had said to himself, "He's is never coming back from that."

3. ONE US DETECTIVE  STATEMENT

a. "Thomas would have made a good detective; he wouldn't decide without the facts.” 

b. “Fingerprints -- are better than an eye witness. An eye witness can get excited (and be wrong). And the criminal may have a twin brother. But no one else has your fingerprints." 

c."People used old scars, wounds, tattoos or birthmarks to identify people in the old days."

"Thomas's technique for identifying Christ would have been normal for his time." 

C. JESUS’ LOVING ACCOMMODATION 

Acts 1:3 says that Jesus "showed himself alive... by many infallible (convincing) proofs."

Jesus gave each person what they needed to convince the ma. For some, 

a head wrapping still intact.

b. For others, the message through an Angel.

c. For others, His eating fish and honeycomb.

d. For Thomas, the chance to touch His wounds.

3. Thomas and Jesus knew: Nail prints Don't Lie!

I. DEDICATED LEADER AMONG THE APOSTLES

II. HIS DOUBT OF THE RESURRECTION

III. THOMAS’ TRANSFORMATION

 

A. A REVOLUTION OCCURRED IN THOMAS!

Imagine the shock when Jesus appeared and commanded Thomas to inspect His wounds! Every doubt was answered with Jesus’ "in your face" REALITY! In "My Lord and My God" we see:

1. An INCREDIBLY STRONG FAITH. 

Before, he had had more doubt than any; now he had more faith than most. He made the strongest expression of deity by his statement.

2. A NEW HUMILITY was found in his expression. 

We sense:

a. "How could I have doubted you?"

b. "What I have I been thinking of?"

c. "How could I have been so arrogant?"

d. "I wandered so far, further than everyone else!" My Lord and My God!

3. A. SURPRISE of COMPLETE JOY! 

Intense pleasure; holy wonder. It was like he had found the one he had loved intensely, but lost, until now.

4. RENEWAL of ALLEGIANCE to CHRIST.

"My Lord and My God!" In that we see a re-consecration of his service.

a) This statement is amazing, for a Jew to make that statement is incredible

b) To call an human associate “My Lord and My God” could be considered blasphemy and punishable by death

5. Thomas was willing ---- What can we gain from this story?

A. First of all understand that doubt is not sin

It is not sin to doubt. If it were Jesus would have said why are you sinning against me, he did not say that We all wrestle with doubt from time to time

Notice something here,

he never doubted Jesus,

he doubted his fellow disciple

Once Jesus showed him,

he believed and admitted it.

Unbelief and doubt are not the same Unbelief is deliberate denial, disobedience, rebellion, resistance, and is always condemned

Doubt is the sincere question; unbelief is the unwillingness to hear the answer

1. To doubt the resurrection is not that uncommon Dead people rarely get up and our alive again

when you ignore the possibility of the supernatural and miracles you limit truth, science is not able to explain everything

Thomas had just lost his friend Jesus (So he thought) with dashed hope It is hard to make faith fit in with the painful realities of life This occurs when: a loved one dies, Children in this world are starving, we loose our job, our marriage falls apart

2. What is funny is we often doubt that miracles can happen, but our desire for them is even stronger

The writer of Psalms sometimes express much anger and sing about doubts and disappointments

a) However, they always seem to realize in the end that God is God, God cares for them, and God listens to them

B. IMPACT ON HIS LIFE

1. He became one of the most courageous of the apostles.

2. Tradition says that he labored in Parthia, Persia and India, suffering martyrdom near Madras now Chennai, at Mount St. Thomas.

INVITATION AND THE FINAL CHALLENGE

For many of us are more like Thomas than we would like to believe, or admit.

We, too, have our doubts.

We doubt that God cars for and loves us.

We doubt our salvation.

We doubt that the Resurrection took place.

We doubt the very existence of God.

We do not DENY any of these, for if we made a flat denial, we probably would not be here this morning. We would be back home comfortably reading our newspapers and having a late breakfast. Or at the beach enjoying the weather.

We don’t deny.

We doubt.

We want to believe, but we also wonder – what if?

What if God doesn't really care all that much about little ol’ me?

What if salvation is not really possible after all?

What if Jesus did not rise from death but remains buried in some unmarked and forgotten tomb in Israel?

What if God does not exist?

Ill. Each year the University of Chicago Divinity school has a day where it invites great thinkers to lecture there. One year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich, an atheist theologian. Dr. Tillich spoke for 2 1/2 hours proving that the resurrection of Jesus Christ never happened. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded that since there was no such thing as historical resurrection, the religious tradition of the Church was groundless, emotional mumbo-jumbo. At the conclusion of his lecture he asked if there were any questions. After 30 seconds of silence an old preacher with a head of white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium. "Dr. Tillich, I have one question.” Every eye in the place turned toward him. He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out of an apple and began eating it. "Dr. Tillich, my question is a simple question. Now I've never read any of those books you just cited. I can't recite the Scriptures from the original Greek. I don't know anything about Niebuhr or Heidegger..." He finished the Apple. "All I want to know is: this Apple I just ate; was it sour or sweet?” Dr. Tillich paused and finally said, "I can't possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your Apple." The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his Apple into the crumpled paper bag and looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly "Neither have you tasted my Jesus." The 1000+ in attendance couldn't contain themselves and a erupted into applause and cheers. Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform.

Source unknown.

Perhaps the reason so many of us looks down on Thomas and describe him with such harsh words of “doubt” and “failure” and “unfaithful” is because when we see Thomas we see a reflection of a part of ourselves. A part that we do not like. A part that we wish was not there.

For who among us has NEVER, EVER felt some twinge of doubt creeping up in his or her thoughts?

IS it true?

Is the Bible true? God? Christ?

What if it is not?

What if?

We all have doubts -- At one time or another, about one matter or another, and the way most of us deal with doubt is to suppress it. We ignore it and refuse to admit it to ourselves and we certainly refuse to admit our doubts to others.

As if dealing with some hideous crime or some embarrassing mistake, we hide everyone any evidence of our doubt and we wear a mask of faith and we pretend to believe without question.

After all, what kind of Christian would we be could be if we admitted that our lack of faith had resulted in doubt?

We treat doubting as if it were some sort of spiritual disease and in a sense that is exactly what it is.

But we make a mistake by dealing with doubt by suppressing and ignoring it. But PRETENDING to be faithful and PRETENDING to have no doubts will not cure the problem. Sooner or later, the old doubts resurface.

IS God real?

Did Christ rise from death?

Is it true?

What if it’s not?

What if?

Denial and suppression is not the way to deal with our doubts.

When we treat doubt by ignoring it, we become like the man who feels the sharp pain in his and and chest, but refuses to call a doctor for help.

Ignore it, and maybe it will go away.

We feel the doubts. We are disturbed by the haunting questions about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We feel doubts and our response is to ignore it. Maybe the doubt will go away.

But the doubts never quite go away.

They remain.

One week after Thomas expressed that doubt, Jesus appeared to him and told the disciple, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands, reach out and put your hand in my side. Stop your doubting and believe.” 

And Thomas believed. All his doubts were resolved. And not only that, but he was able to go beyond and make a giant step of faith beyond what most of the other disciples had made. Others had described the Risen Jesus as Rabbi, prophet, Messiah, King. But it took Thomas, who having expressed and faced his doubts was able to say with great faith, “My Lord, and my God.”

Having faced his doubts Thomas was able to resolve the questions of faith and come out with a STRONGER faith that ever before.

It is good if we are free from doubt. Jesus himself said, “Happy are those who believe without seeing me!”

But IF we have those doubts, and many of us do, it is good that we face them and search for an answer, rather than ignore those doubts and hope they simply disappear.

Ill. In World Vision, writer Tony Campolo tells of taking an airplane from California to Philadelphia one stormy night. It was late, but when the man in the next seat learned that Campolo was a Christian, he wanted to talk. "I believe that going to heaven is like going to Philadelphia," the man said. You can get there by airplane, by train, by bus, by an automobile. There are many ways to get to Philadelphia.” Campolo writes; As we started descending into Philadelphia, the place was fogged in. The wind was blowing, the rain was beating on the plane, and everyone looked nervous and tight. As we were circling in the fog, I turned to the theological expert on my right. "I'm certainly glad the pilot doesn't agree with your theology," I said. "What do you mean?" He asked. "The people in the control tower are giving instructions to the pilot: "Coming north by Northwest, 3 degrees, you're on beam, you're on beam, don't deviate from beam." “I'm glad the pilot's not saying, "There are many ways into the airport. There are many approaches we can take." “I'm glad he is saying, "There's only one way we can land this plane and I'm going to stay with it."

For only then will our faith grow and be nurtured to be a stronger, more realistic faith. I ask that you would stand where you are if you sense that Christ is asking you to take a stand for Him today. Are you Ready if so come before the Alter after the service, I and Sunita will minister to you. Others Gently take your fellowship lunch.