Our Savior Lutheran Church

Introduction

Last week we ran into Matthew, the first of the apostles whose background was decidedly shady. Somewhere in his past, Matthew had decided to abandon everything his culture held dear, pledge allegiance to the Roman occupiers, and make a killing by extorting taxes from his fellow countrymen. This entrepreneur had to abandon the worship of money to follow Jesus. He’s an interesting case study for men living in the most materialistic civilization of all time.

This week our subject is Thomas. Try as he might, Thomas had serious doubts. Eventually this included Jesus. However, his crisis of doubt turned into the moment when his faith burst out triumphantly.

To Get Us Started

Thomas and Philip appear together before and after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus (John 14:5-8; Acts 1:13). Perhaps their pessimism drew them together in stressful times. In the Gospel apostolic lists, Thomas is paired with Matthew (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15). Maybe Matthew looked on the brighter side of things and cheered his gloomier colleague.

1. If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear the wind howling and rain lashing your house, which of these is your default reaction?

2. Are you more like your mother or your father in your pessimism/optimism? In what ways are you like this parent?

The Word

Thomas is the English version of a Hebrew name that means “Twin.” In John’s Gospel Thomas is identified as “Thomas (called ‘Twin’)” (John 11:16; 21:2). The second name, translated “Twin,” is the Greek term “Didymus.” Did Thomas have a twin brother or sister? Maybe. On the other hand, Thomas could have been a family name handed down from generation to generation.

The Gospels reveal nothing of Thomas’ background or occupation. He went fishing in Galilee with six other apostles between the resurrection and ascension of Jesus (John 21:2). Thomas is not mentioned by name after the first chapter of Acts.

Grimly Determined – John 11:1, 3, 6-8, 14-18

Now 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." … [6]Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. [7] Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." [8] "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" … [14] So then he 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 (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Stubbornly Confused – John 14:1-7

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. [4] You know the way to the place where I am going."

[5] Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

[6] Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Bordering On Unbelief – John 20:24-29

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. [25] So 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 it."

[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."

[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."

Observations

Tradition says Thomas became a great missionary in India, where he established the church and died a martyr. Supposedly, he fell mortally wounded by a spear. If so, it was rather an ironic way to die for the man who demanded to thrust his hand into the spear wound in Jesus’ side. Perhaps Thomas was named “Twin” to indicate the Holy Spirit wants to speak through his example to those who are spiritually his “twin,” men who tend to be pessimistic about life’s situations?

Observation 1

It’s possible to be a pessimistic personality yet a sincere follower of Jesus Christ.

All of us have basic tendencies that drive us and motivate us to react in certain ways. Some of these traits are innate. They form the basic pattern we’re born with. Some of these traits are also developed in our environment. But whatever the source, it is important to understand that the Holy Spirit wants to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. Though Thomas was the kind of man who was affected by both his heredity and environment, he was still a very sincere follower of Jesus Christ. He asserted his willingness to die for the Lord before any of the other apostles (John 11:16). Even so, he battled pessimism. He allowed the realities of life to move him in the direction of being skeptical, negative, and untrusting. Consequently, his communication style often reflected sarcasm, arrogance, and a critical spirit. Furthermore, Thomas often put his faith in his own abilities, which also made him hesitant to trust others. As a result, he had difficulty understanding and accepting the supernatural dimensions of life.

In spite of his pessimistic approach to life, Thomas brings us a message of hope. Though we’ll never change the basic pattern with which we were born, we can change the way we respond to the circumstances in our lives. We can learn to reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Observation 2

It’s possible to be a very logical and rational thinker yet be spiritually confused.

Though Thomas could function in a very logical and rational way, he didn’t understand who Jesus really was. He was spiritually confused. Just so, you may be a clear thinker from a human point of view. Yet you may have some unique blind spots spiritually and theologically. Unfortunately, you may not even recognize that this is true.

I personally believe that Thomas began to experience spiritual discernment the day he questioned Jesus about the way to the Father (John 14:5). At that moment, the Holy Spirit revealed to him who Jesus really was. Spiritual truth is spiritually discerned. Without supernatural assistance, Thomas would have remained confused.

Though he still entered a period of doubt and continued to battle his pessimistic tendencies, Thomas had become a new creation in Christ Jesus. By the end of the Gospel of John he had moved from being a carnal, worldly Christian to being a man controlled and directed by the Holy Spirit.

Observation 3

It’s possible for a true believer to experience a crisis of faith that creates a complete state of doubt.

Thomas was not with the other apostles when Jesus made His first post-resurrection appearance. Perhaps he was so angry, wounded, and disillusioned that he simply went off by himself to regain perspective. It would make sense that he would try to revert to his old ways o f doing things: trying to cope at a rational level.

Thomas did not permanently disassociate himself from the other apostles. He reappeared only to hear he had missed out on an incredible experience. Thomas immediately put up his mental and emotional guard. He would not risk reopening his wound. He would not rust the report that his fellow disciples gave him.

Seven days later, Jesus once again appeared, calmed the fears of His apostles, and turned to face Thomas. He invited His doubting disciple to put his finger and his hand into the wounds that were still visible. He then told Thomas, “Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer” (John 20:27). Thomas processed his answer to Jesus’ challenge in a split second. He knew this was another miracle that demonstrated Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be. He exclaimed with joy: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). His rebound was immediate and comprehensive.

To Discuss

1. Do you react positively or negatively to skeptical people like Thomas? Why?

2. How would you like your outlook on life to become more balanced on the continuum between optimism and pessimism?

3. When Jesus wanted to go tend to Lazarus, Thomas said, “Let’s go so that we may die with Him.” What’s the best explanation you can give for Thomas’ response? The worst?

4. Thomas was the first apostle to express willingness to be wounded and die with Jesus. Why do you think he said it to the other apostles rather than to Jesus?

5. Thomas told Jesus that he and the other apostles did not know where Jesus was going or how to get there (John 14:5). How do you imagine the other apostles felt about Thomas’ statement? How do you suppose Jesus felt about it?

6. Why do you think Jesus gave Thomas more evidence of His resurrection than He gave the other apostles (John 20:27-29)?

7. What was Thomas asserting when he called Jesus “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28)?

8. What do you think is the blessing of embracing what the Bible tells us about who Jesus is, without demanding empirical evidence as a prerequisite (John 20:29)?

9. In what area(s) of life do doubts interfere with your spiritual growth?

10. How can focusing on Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life diminish your doubts and increase your faith so you can progress spiritually?

11. Do you find that rational thought and study clarify the Christian faith for you or confuse it? Why do you think that is?

12. Spiritual truth must be spiritually discerned. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in illuminating our minds to understand the Christian faith?

13. What life crises have created doubts for you about your faith? How did you recover from them?

Jesus was patient with Thomas’ doubts and generous in the way He provided answers to those doubts. We, too, should be patient with others who doubt. We should not despair of the Lord’s patience when our own stubborn doubts cause3 us to disappoint Him.

14. Would you like to be more optimistic about life or more critical in your thinking? How can this group help you do that?

15. What doubt or life crisis is troubling you presently? How can we pray for you?

Next Week

Next week we look at three seldom-noticed apostles. We know next-to-nothing about them. Whereas Thomas had a definite character, that of a doubter, James, Simon, and Judas must be considered generally. We will use them to explore the specific role the apostles played in spreading the gospel and founding the church. The Lord Jesus chose these men, whom we regard as anonymous, for their specific personalities, gifts, and passions. We may not know what they were, but the Lord did. He chose them, sent them out, and used them mightily.