Pastor A

Thomas has endured a lot of character abuse through the years. He has been condemned as a hopeless doubter and criticized for his lack of faith when the resurrected Jesus first appeared to his followers. But Thomas was really no worse than the other disciples. They, too, forsook Jesus when He was arrested in the Garden. Matthew 26:56, “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” None of them believed in the resurrection until they had seen Jesus alive again.

John 20:19-20, “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.“

When the disciples told Thomas they had seen the Lord and that He was live, Thomas did not accept their testimony as the truth. He said in John 20:25, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Thomas wanted a personal conviction, a personal knowledge of the truth, carefully thought out and tested by personal experience. It was not that he doubted the word of the other disciples, it is just that he wanted to know for himself.

And perhaps this is the main point of Thomas’ life: that faith must be personal, based upon a personal knowledge, and application of the Word (both the Living Word, Jesus, and the written Word, the Bible) to your own heart and mind. You as a Christian cannot live off someone else’s faith; your parents, your pastors, your friends. You must know for yourself. When you take your doubts and your honest desires for the truth to the Living and the written Word, you will find the answers.

You, like Thomas, will be able to know Jesus really is the Master. You really can serve Him with the utmost of confidence.

He was the original “Doubting Thomas.” When the other disciples came to him and excitedly shared the news of Christ’s resurrection, he said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25. He demanded proof before accepting their remarkable claim. But eight lonely days passed before he knew the truth. Then, on the eighth day he was with the other disciples when Jesus appeared in their midst.

The Lord spoke to Thomas and invited him to touch His hands and side. But Thomas did not need to, because just the sight of the risen Master was evidence enough to convince him. He looked into the eyes of the Savior and said, “My Lord and my God.“

The Bible says that, “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Thomas believed because he met face to face the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ. Of course, we cannot meet Jesus face to face as Thomas did, but we can meet Him through the written Word of God, the Bible. This perhaps was the most important lesson in the life of Thomas; learning faith through the Word of God.

There is an oldie but goodie that goes like this: Curious little Johnnie discovers a large dust-covered family Bible in the living room and asks his mother: “Mommy, whose book is that?”

“Why, that God’s book, Johnnie.” With childish brilliance he answers, “Well, why don’t we give it back to Him? Nobody seems to be using it.”

Sound familiar? Chances are you live in a household much like Johnnie’s. The Bible is there, but it is just a part of the furniture, not a part of the lives of the people who live in the house. By now you are probably shaking your head in agreement, and that is good. The first step toward solving a problem is recognizing what is wrong. But first, let’s personalize the issue: What role does the Bible play in your everyday life? Do you read it daily? Do you study it daily? Do you live by the belief that “a verse a day keeps the Devil away?”

If the Bible is not an indispensable part of your life, you have a real problem on your hands. Dozens of reason for the absolute necessity of Bible study could be listed. Over the next couple days we will examine some of the reasons you need to study the Bible.