DOUBTING THOMAS . . . REALLY?
Just what was it that Thomas didn’t believe? Was it about the resurrection of Jesus? I think not!
Let us follow the scriptures relating to Thomas . . .
From JOHN 11: regarding Lazarus . . . (capitalization emphasis is mine).
When Jesus heard that (about Lazarus being very sick), he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
These things said he: and after that he said unto them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep”.
Then said his disciples, “Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well”. Howbeit Jesus spoke of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, “Lazarus is dead And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him”.
Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow-disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him”.
Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
Thomas and the others were with Jesus and would have heard this conversation.
STAGGERING!
Lazarus died . . . Jesus was glad that He was NOT there at the time! Why was Jesus glad? So that the DISCIPLES (including Thomas) might believe. Believe what? That Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead? . . . Much more! Rather that Jesus was the resurrection AND that He was the LIFE that ensues out of being raised from death (sleep).
John 11:25-26 Jesus told Martha earlier ... ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes on Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believes in Me, shall never die! Believest thou this?
Let us follow this through . . .
THOMAS heard Jesus say that He was going to ‘raise Lazarus out of sleep’ . . . Thomas right then had a revelation that Jesus was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Why? Look at his response,
“ Let US go with Jesus so that we can die with Lazarus”. Heh, guys, lets die too!
Why say such a thing? Unless, you were convinced that you too would be raised from the dead!
You know the rest of the account. Lazarus was specifically raised from the dead.
From this point on, Thomas, with such a revelation, was obviously NOT AFRAID OF DEATH . . . he knew that if he died, he would be raised from the dead by Jesus.
After the death and burial of Jesus, the ten disciples were in a closed room FOR FEAR OF THE JEWS! They were afraid that they too would be put to death (John 20:19). Thomas was NOT with them on that occasion. Why not ? He was NOT afraid to die — remember, he’d got a revelation about being resurrected. Thomas had really heard that Jesus was not only the Resurrection but also THE LIFE. He had a yearning to be fully identified with that resurrected life in Christ. He needed help to fully believe that this LIFE could really be his?
A week later Thomas was with the other ten . . . and Jesus came to meet that hunger in Thomas.
“Thomas, you can have the LIFE if you will but touch my hands and thrust you hand into my side . . . Come on Thomas, believe that you can identify with my resurrected life RIGHT NOW”.
“Thrust” in the Greek means to throw or place something which, to do it, requires energy or effort. Picture it like a boxer’s punch. Come on Thomas (including each one of us!), put out some effort and reach right into my heart for you have already believed in resurrection. Did Thomas touch and strike Jesus? You answer that one! The intensity of your desire to experience the full resurrection life of Christ at this point in your life, will affect your answer.
“Thomas BELIEVE that this victorious resurrected LIFE is your’s now for I was raised from the dead for you to be justified and for you to show forth that resurrected LIFE by My life in you and as you”. This will produce change in one’s life right now... firstly with no fear of dying and, secondly the resurrected life of Christ is operative in you right now. As He is, so are we in this world (I John 4:17). §
Home