Sermon Central
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Doubting Thomas $ The Response Of The Other Disciples
Contributed by Larry Brincefield on Apr 16, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: We know all about "doubting" Thomas...but I would like for us to look at how the other disciples responded to Thomas. 1. They Noticed he wasn’t there. 2. They shared their experience with Christ with Thomas. 3. He was welcomed in spite of his doubts.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Title: Doubting Thomas: A look at the Other Disciples
Text: John 20:24-29
Introduction
1. Today is one week after the resurrection.
• As we study God’s Word, we see many exciting things happening following the resurrection…
• There are multiple times when Christ appeared unto different people…
• And each one of these events would certainly be worthy of study.
• But there is one in particular, that I would like to focus on today.
2. On the day that Jesus rose again, He appeared unto the disciples…
• But Thomas wasn’t with them…
• Much has been made of Thomas’ absence…
• Perhaps he felt too grief-stricken to be with the others…
• Perhaps his faith had ebbed away and didn’t want to join with the others…
• We can surmise all we want, but Scripture doesn’t tell us…
• And as a result, he made that great profession of doubt that has followed him for 2,000 years…
• And still today, we refer to him as “doubting Thomas”…
• How would you like to be remembered 2,000 years after your life with some less than complimentary description of your character attached to your name?
• I’m not so sure we’ve been entirely fair with Thomas.
3. In any event, he wasn’t there…
• And he missed out on an incredible blessing…
• However, 1 week after the resurrection…
• Which coincides with our worship service today…
• Jesus came again…
• Only this time, Thomas was there…
• And Thomas makes a great profession of faith.
4. This is a very common story…
• And it is certainly commonly told 1 week after Easter…
• In fact, I have shared with you from this text in the past during the Easter season…
• However, today, I’d like us to look at it a little bit differently…
• The wonderful thing about God’s Word is that it is always fresh…
• Always new…
• Always full of more richness for us to allow to further enrich our lives…
• Today, I’d like us to look at this passage of Scripture…
• NOT from Thomas’ standpoint…
• But from the standpoint of the other disciples.
• Let’s stand together as we read God’s Word.
Text: John 20:24-29
Body
1. First of all, I want you to see that they Noticed that Thomas Wasn’t with Them
A. Thomas had spent 3 years with them…
• They enjoyed meals together…
• They enjoyed sitting at the feet of Jesus together…
• They enjoyed worshipping in the Temple together…
• They had participated in ministry together…
B. But then something incredible happened…
• Jesus rose from the dead…
• It seemed to good to be true…
• But that’s what the Mary’s had told them…
• And even still, they were afraid that what had happened to Jesus would happen to them as well…
• So they were meeting together on Sunday,
• Behind locked doors….
• And all of a sudden, Jesus appeared…
• In spite of the locked doors…
• He spoke to them…
• He showed them the marks in His hands and His side…
• Then He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”…
• Wow!
• What an incredible boost to their faith!
• What a wonderful visitation of the Lord upon their meeting!...
• But, like we have already pointed out…
• For whatever reason, Thomas wasn’t there.
C. I suppose they could have just enjoyed the wonderful blessing that they had received…
• And forgotten all about Thomas…
• But that’s not what happened…
• Our Scripture implies that they were certainly aware that Thomas wasn’t there.
• So they sought him out.
D. I see a message for us in this.
• Sometimes we have people that have been with us for months; or even years…
• They have joined with us in worship…
• They have shared meals together with us…
• They had ministered together with us…
• But for some reason, they’ve missed out on something recently…
• Maybe they are hurting…
• Maybe they are grieving…
• Maybe they are losing the faith…
• But my question is…Do we notice when those people aren’t here?
• Are we are aware when they have missed out on something special?
• And if so, what do we do?
• Do we just go on about our business…
• Thinking to ourselves… “well, it’s their loss”…
• Or do we actually do something about it like those early disciples did.
2. Secondly, I want you to notice that the disciples Witnessed to Thomas about Their Personal Experience with the Lord
A. Our text indicates that after the disciples sought out Thomas…
• They told him, “we have seen the Lord!”
