THE POWER OF HONESTY (2 OF 3)
by Craig Smith
Scripture: John 20, John 24, John 29
This content is part of a series.
The Power of Honesty (2 of 3)
Series: Easter
Craig Smith
John 20, 24,29
So after Jesus rose from the dead, he met with his disciples, but according to the Gospel of John:
24 Now Thomas (also known as 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.''
If you've ever heard the phrase ''doubting Thomas'', this is where it comes from...from Thomas, who doubted that Jesus had actually risen from the dead. And I've always felt like an unfair nickname, because who wouldn't have struggled with doubt in that situation? He'd seen Jesus beaten, nailed to a cross and stabbed in his side with a spear to make sure he was dead. And then his friends told him, ''Jesus is back!'' I just feel like, in a situation like that, doubt would be about the most natural thing in the world. And yet we call him ''doubting Thomas'' as though having doubts is something to be ashamed of. But it's not. And I know it's not because of what Jesus did for Thomas:
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!''
See? Rather than being disappointed in his doubt, Jesus honored his honesty. He supplied the evidence Thomas needed to move beyond his doubts and forward in faith. So if you're listening to this and you're struggling with some doubt, whether that's about the truth of Christianity or about whether God is really listening to you and really looking out for you, I want you to hear two things today:
- God is not disappointed in you ...
Series: Easter
Craig Smith
John 20, 24,29
So after Jesus rose from the dead, he met with his disciples, but according to the Gospel of John:
24 Now Thomas (also known as 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.''
If you've ever heard the phrase ''doubting Thomas'', this is where it comes from...from Thomas, who doubted that Jesus had actually risen from the dead. And I've always felt like an unfair nickname, because who wouldn't have struggled with doubt in that situation? He'd seen Jesus beaten, nailed to a cross and stabbed in his side with a spear to make sure he was dead. And then his friends told him, ''Jesus is back!'' I just feel like, in a situation like that, doubt would be about the most natural thing in the world. And yet we call him ''doubting Thomas'' as though having doubts is something to be ashamed of. But it's not. And I know it's not because of what Jesus did for Thomas:
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!''
See? Rather than being disappointed in his doubt, Jesus honored his honesty. He supplied the evidence Thomas needed to move beyond his doubts and forward in faith. So if you're listening to this and you're struggling with some doubt, whether that's about the truth of Christianity or about whether God is really listening to you and really looking out for you, I want you to hear two things today:
- God is not disappointed in you ...
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