WEEK 22

DOUBTING THOMAS

According to Strong’s Greek lexicon doubt means, ‘to waver, hesitate, be uncertain.’ Doubt is not rejection of belief, but holding a belief with hesitation and uncertainty. Thomas was not a doubter. He didn’t doubt the resurrection of Jesus—he fully rejected it until he could have physical proof.¹

Thomas was the kind of guy who wanted to know for himself. He would not let others do his thinking for him. What did Jesus do with such a man? He made a special resurrection appearance for him. He condescended to Thomas and his desire to know for himself. Jesus came to Thomas on his level. He didn’t rebuke him. He didn’t humiliate him. He could see that deep down in Thomas’s heart, he really wanted to know God.²

“Scripture describes at least ten distinct appearances of Christ between the resurrection and ascension. He appeared: . . . (5) to ten of the eleven disciples, Thomas being absent; (6) to the eleven disciples (with Thomas present).”³

Eight days elapsed between the two appearances with Thomas absent and Thomas present; and during that period he found his way back to the group. He had once affirmed that he would die with the Lord (John 11:16); but, like the others, he had failed. However, he came back, and that is what counts.⁴

“Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:26-28 ESV).

“With these words, Thomas declared his firm belief in the resurrection and, therefore the deity of Jesus the Messiah and Son of God. This is the greatest confession a person can make.”⁵

“He came back, and Jesus came back to meet him. [A]nd therein is a promise of hope for all who will return to the Master.”⁶

“His invitation to all doubters is the same as to Thomas; investigate for yourself! Test the evidence, and like Thomas, be not faithless but believing.”⁷

“Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God” (Isa 50:10 ESV).

ENDNOTES

(22) Thomas Was Gone

            1. Sean McDowell, “The Apostle Thomas Was Not a Doubter,” 28 July 2016, Sean McDowell, 12 February 2021 https://seanmcdowell.org/blog/the-apostle-thomas-was-not-a-doubter.

            2. Greg Laurie, “New Knowledge of the Skeptic,” 2 April 2007, Harvest, 12 February 2021 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/new-knowledge-for-the-skeptic/.

            3. John MacArthur, One Perfect Life (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2012) 480.

            4. James Burton Coffman, “Commentary of John 20:25,” 1999, Coffman Commentaries on the Bible, 12 February 2021 https://www.studylight.org/commentary/john/20-25.html#verse-bcc.

            5. John MacArthur, One Perfect Life (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2012) 482.

            6. James Burton Coffman, “Commentary of John 20:25,” 1999, Coffman Commentaries on the Bible, 12 February 2021 https://www.studylight.org/commentary/john/20-25.html#verse-bcc.

            7. “Jesus and Thomas,” Trusting in Jesus, 12 February 2021 https://www.trusting-in-jesus.com/jesusandthomas.html.

            8. “So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25 ESV).

            9. “Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them . . .” (John 20:26 ESV).

            10. “Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”  (John 20:28 ESV).

            11. Charles Spurgeon, Commentary on John 20:28,” 1905-09, The Biblical Illustrator, 12 February 2021 https://www.studylight.org/commentary/john/20-28.html#verse-tbi.

            12. Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown, “Commentary on John 20:28,” 1871-8, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 12 February 2021 https://www.studylight.org/commentary/john/20-28.html#verse-jfb.

            13. “Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”  (John 20:28 ESV).

            14. Sean McDowell, “The Apostle Thomas Was Not a Doubter,” 28 July 2016, Sean McDowell, 12 February 2021 https://seanmcdowell.org/blog/the-apostle-thomas-was-not-a-doubter.

            15. J. Hart, “A Form of Words, Though E’re so Sound,” Gadsby’s Hymnal #31, 12 February 2021 https://gracegems.org/C/gadsby1.htm.

            16. “Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’”  (John 20:28 ESV).

            17.  . . .that disciple, leaning back against Jesus . . .” (John 13:25 ESV).

            18. “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead . . .” (Revelation 1:17 ESV).