Doubting Thomas, 2025

Doubting

Easter Night & One Week Later. 

Q: What word(s) do you think of…

 Judas

Peter

Matthew

Jesus

James & John

Pontius Pilate

Thomas

Did you know…

 1. Thomas was willing to die with Jesus.

John 11:1+

A man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha… 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory…He stayed where he was two more days,7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas… said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die WITH him.”

Did you know…

2. Thomas showed such a deep commitment and courage?

“Pessimistic Courage”

 Courage which expects a Negative outcome, yet faces the challenge anyway.

Did you know…

 3. Thomas was an influential leader?

They went

Did you know…

  4. Thomas wanted so bad to be with Jesus?

John 14  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. I am going there to prepare a place for you? … 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Separation Anxiety??? 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way

Did you know…

 5. Thomas might have been trying to protect himself from being so very hurt again by not being with Jesus?

 John 20:24+  Thomas… was not with the disciples when Jesus came… 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.” All of Thomas’ fears came true. He was separated from Jesus.

Talking to those who are Pessimistic or depressed

can be very hard…

 “I’ve got to see it to believe it.”

 “I’ve got no strength.

 “I’ve got no hope.”

 “I don’t want to be hurt again.”

 Jesus does not blame people for wanting to be more confident.

 Confidence often comes from:

 Being around other believers.

 &

 From experience. 

 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.” (Greek = “Stop being unbelieving 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.”

 That is YOU.

“Faith is being SURE of what we hope for, and CERTAIN of what we do not see.”

 - Hebrews 11:1

What is getting in the way of your SURENESS and CERTAINTY?

TRUST

Remember who you are

 You are a disciple.

You are an apostle.

You are a Believer

You are a Child of God.

It’s not about how well we believe.

It’s about who we believe in.

[St. Thomas Mount  National Shrine in Chennai, India has the words above the door, "My Lord and My God."]

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” 

- Proverbs 3:5,6