Thomas
Q: What do you think of…?
A: Doubting
Thomas has gotten some bad press
Some Thoughts about Thomas
1. Wanted to be 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.”
He wanted to be WITH Jesus
“Let us also go, that we may die WITH him.”
2. He shows COMMITMENT to a deep relationship.
“Let us also go, that we may DIE with him.”
3. He shows great Courage.
“Pessimistic Courage”
“Optimistic Courage”
Expects a Positive outcome, which makes it easier than “Pessimistic" Courage which expects a Negative outcome, yet faces the challenge anyway.
“Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
4. He showed Leadership “Let’s go”
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
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.
“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
“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