The Gospel Of John Chapter 20 Pt. 5 Believe The Gospel And Be Blessed. Don't Be A Doubting Thomas

{The Archive Index for years 2019 through 2021 was posted on September 7, 2022. The titles of each lesson and their publish dates are listed. Th index for 2022 was posted January 24, 2023. I hope this is a good resources to help you study God's Word.}

We come to the end of John 20, with one more chapter to think about, before we complete our study through John's gospel. 

This chapter ends with the account of "Doubting Thomas" which highlights living by faith or by sight.

The unbelief of Thomas contrasted with the disciple's faith. 

John 20:24-25  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25)  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 

Thomas' name means "twin" and his surname of "Didymus" means twain or two fold. This means that Thomas had a twin brother or sister.

Thomas has often been derided for failing to believe what the other disciples said, about seeing the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet, he did assert his faith in a clear manner. His initial unbelief was replaced with true faith.

This narrative highlights the faith struggles we all have. We live in physical bodies, in a material world. We each are very aware of the world around us and our place in it, because of how God made us. 

Sometimes, we become too focused upon the things of this earth, and we lose sight of heavenly things. 

John does not tell us why Thomas was not assembled with the other disciples, and we should not speculate about something God did not choose to tell us. 

The text simply states that Thomas was not present and therefore, he did not see Jesus when He appeared to the disciples. 

The appearance of Jesus galvanized the faith of the disciples who were present. As soon as Thomas joined them, they told him about seeing Jesus.

"We have seen the Lord" is an excited exclamation of their faith in their resurrected Lord. 

They did not condemn Thomas for being absent. Rather, their words convey an attitude, that they wish he had been present with them to see Christ. 

We should not be too harsh on Thomas for his seemingly faithless reply. We must remember, that he had seen all the brutal suffering of Jesus. 

He saw the Lord's broken and dead body removed from the cross. Images of the gory crucifixion were still vivid in his mind.

Considering all that he witnessed at Calvary, Thomas was skeptical that Jesus could be raised from the dead after dying on the cross. 

He wanted tangible proof before he would believe. He said he would only believe it he could put his fingers in the nail holes in Christ's hands, and thrust his hand into the gaping spear wound in Jesus' side. 

Thus, Thomas' unbelief and skepticism was very deep. He did not say "If I see I will believe." Rather, he said "I will not believe unless I see."

Jesus appeared to His disciples on the next Sunday.

John 20:26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 

After 8 more days, all the disciples were gathered together, including Thomas. This means it was the next Sunday, the first day of the week. 

The doors were shut for security purposes just like the first time that Jesus appeared to the disciples. 

Yet, Jesus appeared to them, standing in their midst. He greeted His disciples with words of blessing and hope.

"Peace be unto you" means that God and man are reconciled through the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God will receive sinners who repent and turn to Christ for salvation. 

Thus, man, who previously was at enmity with God, now can have peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus' heart toward unbelief in us. 

Mark 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 

Mark's gospel records the heart of Jesus concerning the disciples lack of faith. He upbraided them for having hard hearts, and not believing the report of those who went to His tomb and saw that He was risen.

Jesus told His disciples on many occasions, that he must die and rise on the third day. Yet, this truth did not sink in until after He rose from the grave.

Jesus addressed the unbelief of Thomas.

John 20:27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.  

Immediately after greeting His disciples, Jesus turned to Thomas. 

He used Thomas' own words and invited him to put his finger into the nail holes in His hands. 

He gave Thomas the opportunity to reach his hand into the wounded side of our Lord. 

Jesus was compassionate in addressing Thomas' unbelief. Yet, His words contain a gentle rebuke. "Be not faithless, but believing." 

Jesus gave the most powerful evidence of the reality of His resurrection. He stood before Thomas in His resurrected body, which bore the marks of being crucified. 

Those who believe on Jesus Christ without seeing Him, are truly blessed.

John 20:28-29  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29)  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 

Thomas had to confess that Jesus was risen from the dead, or continue in stubborn unbelief. He responded with faith and a confession of spiritual realities.

He said "My Lord and my God." No other words could be said, in those particular circumstances. 

Notice what Jesus said to Thomas next. "You have seen me in my resurrected body, and now believe. Blessed are all those who have not seen me physically, yet they believe." 

Jesus was speaking about the apostles fulfilling the Great Commission and preaching the gospel in all the world. He went back to His Father after 40 days of post resurrection ministry.

From the point that Jesus ascended to His Father, no one has physically seen Jesus. He is in heaven and we are here on earth.

Thus, Jesus told Thomas that all who hear the gospel and respond with repentant faith in Him, are especially blessed. We are blessed because we have believed without seeing Jesus, like the disciples saw Him.

We live by faith until the Lord returns or calls us home.

Habakkuk 2:4  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

This connects with the scripture that says "The just shall live by faith" (See Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:112, Hebrews 10:38). 

The word "just" means one who is fully justified and declared righteous by God, through repentant faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

Absent from our body is present with our Lord. 

2 Corinthians 5:6-8  Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7)  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8)  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 

Or, as the apostle Paul put it, "We walk by faith, not by sight." This means we believe what God says to us in His Word. 

We all wish that we could see Jesus, but the Father has called us to live a life of faith, believing His Word, trusting that what He says to is true.

One day we shall see Jesus as He is!

1 John 3:1-3  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3)  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 

One day our faith will be made sight. One day, the Lord will call us home to heaven. 

One day, when Christ returns, we will see Him as He is, and we shall receive a new glorified body (See Philippians 3:21).

Death will separate us from this physical world and we will see the truth of "absent from the body is present with the Lord" (See 2 Corinthians 5:1-8). 

Or, we will be alive at the return of Christ for His church, and hear the trumpet of the Lord sound, and be caught up in the air to be with Him forever, in heaven (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 

Thoughts to Ponder...

As we reflect on these truths, let us be filled with hope. One day we will see our beloved Lord, Savior, Master and King. One day we will be with Him in heaven.

Until that day comes, let us labor for the Lord, knowing that our service for Him is never in vain. He will bless us when we serve Him rightly. 

Let us remember that Jesus said we are blessed because we believe on Him, having not yet seen Him.

Yet, we do see Jesus on the pages of scripture, and this is where our faith must rest, until He calls us home.

May the closing words of John 20 bless and encourage our hearts. Faith is believing the inspired gospel of Jesus Christ, as given to us by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. 

John specifically wrote his gospel to lead his readers to faith in Jesus Christ.

My hope and prayer for each of you, is that you have repented of sin and turned to Jesus for salvation. All who call upon the Lord, shall be saved.

Bob

John 20:30-31  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31)  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.