04-03-16 – John 20:19-29

Turning Point Wesleyan Church

Pastor Dan

1.   Simon Peter or Peter – brother of Apostle Andrew, son of Jonas, (fisherman), married, member of Jesus’ Inner Circle [death - crucified upside-down on a cross].

2.   Andrew – brother of Apostle Peter and son of Jonas, originally a disciple of John the Baptist, (fisherman) [death - crucified on an X-shaped cross].

3.   John – brother of Apostle James, son of Zebedee (fisherman), member of Jesus’ Inner Circle, known as the Beloved Disciple, one of the ‘Sons of Thunder’, [death – died of natural causes on the isle of Patmos].

4.   James or James the Elder – brother of John, son of Zebedee (fisherman), member of Jesus’ Inner Circle, one of the ‘Sons of Thunder’, [death - first apostle martyred].

5.   Judas Iscariot – traitor, son of Simon, (replaced with Matthias [Acts 1:15-26]), [death – hung himself].

6.   Bartholomew or Nathanael – comes from royal blood or noble birth, Son of Tolmai or Talmai who was king of Geshur, [death - Flayed alive with knives].

7.   James the Lesser or James the Younger – son of Alpheus, brother of Apostle Jude, [death - sawn in pieces].

8.   Jude or Thaddeus – son of Alpheus or Cleophas, brother of Apostle James the Younger, [death – killed with arrows].

9.   Matthew or Levi – son of Alpheus, was a publican or tax collector, [death – martyred in Ethiopia].

10.               Philip – fisherman, [death – died by hanging].

11.               Simon the Zealot – was a Canaanite or Zelotes, [death – died a martyrs death].

12.               Thomas Didymus – doubting Thomas, [death – killed with a spear].

13.               Matthias

14.               Paul

By mentioning the names of the Apostles to you and if you were to write down the first ‘word’ that comes into your mind to describe them, what do you think you would come up with?

And then to take what you came up with and compare your ‘word’ with the word’s from what others have, I am sure we would most certainly have many different ‘words’ offered to describe each of the Apostles.

·        Peter – Maybe outspoken, motor mouth, bold, or maybe courageous.

·        James and John – Maybe some of us would have used Jesus’ nick name as ‘Sons of Thunder’, brothers, or fishermen.

·        John – The one Jesus loved the most.

·        Judas – The ‘Betrayer’ or The ‘Traitor’.

·        But what about Thomas, I believe most of us would have come up with one form or of another of the same word. - ‘Doubt’.

In-fact, our society as a whole has coined up a phrase especially to describe this man and of his doubt – ‘Doubting Thomas’.

You may be interested to know that in the first three gospels, we are told absolutely nothing at all about Thomas.

But in the Gospel of John, we find him developing into a distinct personality, but even then there are only 155 words about him.

There is not a lot about this disciple within the Bible as a whole BUT there is more than one description.

When Jesus turned his face toward Jerusalem the disciples thought that it would be certain death for all of them.

Surprisingly, it was Thomas who said: “Then let us go so that we may die with him.” John 11:16

This was a courageous statement, yet we don’t remember him for bravery.

We also fail to gather from within this story of Thomas’ doubt, we find the only place in all of the Gospels where the Theology of Christ is bluntly and unmistakably stated.

Isn’t it interesting that within this story that gives Thomas his infamous nickname, the doubter, is the very same story where Thomas is making an earth shattering confession of faith?

Look at his confession, “My Lord, and my God.”

John 20:28

·        He didn’t proclaim his teacher.

·        or Lord.

·        And not even his Messiah.

·        But God!

This is the only place where Jesus is called God without qualification of any kind.

Thomas makes this conviction statement as if he was simply recognizing a fact.

·        Just like 2 + 2 always equals 4.

·        Or that the sun is hot and it is in the sky and it warms the earth.

·        That Jesus Christ, You are my Lord and my God!

These are certainly not the words of a doubter.

Unfortunately, history remembers Thomas from a scene where the resurrected Christ made an appearance to the disciples in a home in Jerusalem.

Thomas was not present at Christ’s visit and later, when he heard about the event he refused to believe it.

·        Maybe Thomas was the indication of modern day disbelief.

·        Maybe the news simply sounded too good to be true.

But we know that when Thomas was told of Jesus’ visit, he said: Unless I feel the nail prints in his hands - I will not believe. John 20:25

Within this story, did you notice that Thomas had separated himself from the disciples and therefore, in his solitude, he missed the resurrection appearance?

I think that within the words of John, God is suggesting to us today, - that Christ appears most often within a community of believers and that community of believers is what we call the church.

And when we separate ourselves from that group of believers, meaning not becoming or being part of the church or its studies, we ourselves take a very strong risk on missing out on God’s unique presence.

But the story of Thomas doesn’t end here.

The second time Jesus made his appearance Thomas was present with the disciples and this time he too witnessed the event.

And This time he believed.

What can we learn from the life of Thomas?

I

First, It is important for us to note that Jesus did not blame Thomas for doubting.

So often today, the way church handles doubt is to couple it with disbelief and squash it.

But Jesus never condemned Thomas.

I think that Jesus knew that once Thomas worked out his doubts, he would become one of the surest men in all of Christianity.

I must admit that I am most unimpressed of people who say:

·        That they have never had any doubts.

·        And of People who always seem to be so sure of themselves.

I would and am suggesting to you that any person who places him or herself beyond doubt, places him or herself above Christ Himself.

Did you catch that?

Anyone who says that they have no doubt, places themselves above Christ Himself.

Does that hit home with any of you?

On the cross – Jesus Himself cried out, “Father, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46

At that time, on the cross, so close to returning Home, even Jesus Himself had doubts.

Authentic faith always begins with:

·        Intelligent honesty,

·        And doubt is the bedrock of all honesty.

Let’s put it another way: FAITH IS:

·        Not the absence of doubt;

·        But rather it is the overcoming of doubt.

I have had doubts.

I have had great doubt! –

Share?

·        I have stood by a graveside on an icy winter day when a bitter cold wind chapped my face.

·        I have heard the cries of families who have lost someone closer to them than life itself.

·        And I have thought silently to myself:

·        Is it true? Is it all true?

·        Is resurrection the reality?

·        Is there a God?

·        Is there Heaven?

·        Are the non-believers correct and we are the fools to believe?

·        Is it all just simple ancient myth which was designed to just get us through the nights?

But behold - There is MORE FAITH in Honest Doubt than there is in half of the creeds of faith.

We find ourselves crying out to God, as did the man who was with Jesus as it was recorded in Mark 9:23-25.

“And Jesus said to him, "'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes."

Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again."

II
Secondly, we can learn from the life of Thomas that the most endearing things in life can never be proven.

Jesus said: “Thomas, you have believed because you have seen. Blessed are those who have not seen yet still believe.” John 20:29

I don’t know how that makes you feel but Jesus gave me great comfort.

I find within these words, Jesus is talking about me. What about you?

·        I will never see Jesus face to face within this life, Yet I believe. Do You?

·        I will not have the chance to put my fingers in the nail scars, Yet I believe. Will you?

·        I will not get the chance to touch his pierced side, Yet I believe. Can You?

·        It will never be scientific proven to me that He was raised from the dead, Yet I believe. Do You?

·        Even with my Greatest “doubts”, Jesus understands it is harder for me to believe than it was for Thomas and God counts me and YOU as blessed.

But let me ask you: How can you conclusively prove the qualities of:

Love – Friendship - and Faith?

1.   How can you establish beyond a shadow of a doubt of your devotion to your children?

2.   Tomorrow morning, before you do anything, come to my office and bring me supportable evidence that Love exists.

3.   The unbeliever can always dismiss acts of love on your part as attempts at self-love, or the need to control people.

4.   How can you prove to someone that you Love Your Church?

Let me share with you what happens when we live a life which revolves totally upon rational thinking.

I am talking about:

·        If we can’t understand it,

·        If we can’t prove it,

·        If we can’t create it ourselves,

·        It must be true or not be true

·        And we must accept or reject it from our thought.

That is rational thinking and in a purely rationalistic world, one where supernatural things, miracles are removed from our way of thinking or understanding because it cannot be supported by our rational thoughts.

This is what happened to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson ranks as one of our nation’s greatest intelligent people of all time but not many people know that he also rejected the notion of all miracles.

When he approached the scriptures he could not tolerate those passages, which dealt with the supernatural.

So what did he do?

He wrote his own bible.

In the Thomas Jefferson Bible you will find only the moral teachings and historical events of Jesus' life.

·        There is No virgin birth. That was a Miracle.

·        No healing of the sick or lame. That involved the work of God.

·        No walking on water. That involves supernatural abilities.

·        And, no resurrection. No one can undue death.

And here is how Jefferson’s bible ends: "There they laid Jesus and rolled a great stone at the mouth of the tomb and departed."

For Thomas Jefferson the Gospel ends at the foot of the grave.

It is very easy for anyone to rewrite history.

To say, "That - that did not happen."

But the fact remains that the disciples and others were witnesses to these events.

Thomas Jefferson is in essence calling the disciples liars and that they continued on throughout the first century, for 70 years or more, spreading those same lies about for others to hear.

Furthermore, Jefferson's Bible has been robbed of all of its power.

I am convinced that the church does not accomplish 2000 years of life inside the walls of a closed dark hopeless tomb.

There is no power in that dark place.

And Let me say that one more time.

There is NO POWER in the Dark Place.

But rather, the Church is alive and well because Jesus Christ is alive forevermore.

What we can learn from those like Jefferson?

We have to leave some room in our thinking and understanding for spirituality to live within our worldview.

That does not stop science. I am not saying that.

That does not exclude reason. No way.

But What it does mean is that it has to be understood the most important things in your life will never be conclusively proven.

You will and do, on daily and even in a temporary moment to moment basis, need to live life by faith.

If someone could in fact come along and scientifically prove the resurrection, then you would be living your life by fact and not by faith.

But let me suggest something to you that I firmly believe.

Even if a loved one of ours, maybe my brother Greg, who has been dead for years were to come back to life and tell us all about the realities of heaven, and of God, and of His resurrection, you would not change your beliefs because of it.

You recall the story Jesus telling about the man who was in hell and the other man who was in paradise. You may know this Parable as the Rich Man named Lazarus.

The man in hell wanted to come back to earth for a few moments to warn his friends and family about the torments of hell in the hopes of scarring them into right living. He hoped he could keep them from suffering the same fate.

Jesus said, that even if he were to return to warn his loved ones they would not change their lives. And it would not change your world in the slightest either.

God has called us to be the people of faith.

What exist in heaven cannot be proved on earth; it must be believed.

lII

And so, we learn from the life of the Apostle Thomas a third lesson: We must move beyond doubt to faith.

It is all right to doubt, but in our discipleship we should move beyond doubt.

Jesus warned Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe.”

Unbelief is a normal part of life but it is not healthy to remain in unbelief.

In the early days of John Wesley’s ministry he was racked with doubts and uncertainties.

So he went to his old friend and mentor Peter Bohler and bared his soul to him.

Bohler told Wesley: “Preach faith till you have it, and then, because you have it, you will preach faith.”

In other words, act as though you have already moved passed doubt to faith and because you are acting it out it will eventually come to you.

There was a man named Charles Spurgeon. He was the Baptist pulpit giant of the latter part of the nineteenth century.

Spurgeon wrote of going to live in Newcastle England, which at that time was a very dirty industrial town.

As he was looking around the house that he was thinking about renting, the landlord took him to the uppermost room and took him over to a window. Pointed out the window the man said ‘And over there you can see Durham Cathedral on Sundays’. Spurgeon questioned. ‘Sundays, Why on a Sunday?’ Then the landlord said, ‘Because the furnaces of the factories are not working on Sunday and there is no smoke and you can therefore see farther.’

You know, when we come to worship on Sunday morning and to the bible studies, we come to see further, to see Durham Cathedral.

When we gather in worship we come to see into the heart of God.

I want to say something to you this morning, and in doing so I also say it to myself as well.

There are times in our lives when we will face:

·        Grief,

·        Disappointment,

·        Pain,

·        And maybe depression.

There are times when these things happen that causes our hold on God:

·        To be shaken,

·        To take a side road

·        Or even to take a pause.

When these moments of true, deep doubt come to you, let me urge you to remember something.

It is something which has gotten me through many of dark times and nights.

And if you remember nothing about today’s sermon at all, please remember this thought,

NEVER DOUBT IN THE DARK –

WHAT GOD HAS TOLD YOU IN THE LIGHT.

NEVER DOUBT IN THE DARK –

WHAT GOD HAS TOLD YOU IN THE LIGHT.

I say this to you because it is in moments of spiritual light, that God shows us His True Reality.

These moments of spiritual light are so very important, because they allow us to get through many dark nights of doubt and despair, which comes into the lives of every single one of us.

In moments of light, God has told you that:

·        He will never desert you.

·        And you should rest in that!

In moments of light, God has told you that:

·        THE Resurrection is a reality.

·        And Don’t ever let the darkness cause you to doubt that.

In moments of light, God has told you that:

·        The very hairs on your head are numbered by Himself.

·        You yourself are so important to Him.

In moments of light, God has told you that:

·        He loves you regardless of whatever you have done.

·        The world can never become too dark to remove His Love.

In moments of light, God had told you that:

·        He wants you to be with Him FOREVER.

·        He is always there for you. Just call upon His Name.

God is and always will be unexplained, but that is OK!

Because by living through our Faith in Him:

·        We Believe,

·        And we are BLESSED because of it.