“What About My Doubt?”
JOHN 20: 19 - 31
INTRODUCTION:
In 1957, Lieutenant David Steeves walked out of the California Sierras Mts. 54 days after his Air Force trainer jet had disappeared. He related an unbelievable tale of survival after parachuting from his disabled plane. For almost 3 months he said he had eaten berries and dug snow tunnels to sleep in, had seen no one during the entire time & finally walked out on his own. By the time he showed up alive, he had already been declared officially dead and his story was viewed with much skepticism because during that same time frame his assigned unit had been sent to the Korean War. When further search failed to turn up any wreckage, a hoax was suspected & Steeves was forced to resign under a cloud of doubt. He lived for 2 decades branded as a deserter and possible spy. One story had him selling the plane to the Russians, another shipping it piecemeal to Mexico. Steeves died in 1965. In 1977 a troop of Boy Scouts hiking through Kings Canyon National Park discovered the wreckage of Steeve’s plane and his story was confirmed. His family was issued an apology from the military and was told that Lt. David Steeves’s name was reinstated with honor. One of Steeves friends, Eugene Junett, after the ceremony told the Associated Press. “This is nice, but then he added: “I just wish someone would of believed Dave back then.”
We have all heard things that are hard to believe. TV shows and the museum of “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” make millions of dollars telling about things hard to swallow. So is it too difficult to blame a man who has been told the ultimate unbelievable tale, that Jesus who had been put to death had come back from the grave, for his skepticism? I think we all, to some degree, can identify with Thomas, one of the 12 hand picked followers of Jesus. Like Thomas, there have been things we’ve wondered about. Maybe circumstances or your upbringing makes it incredibly difficult for you to believe in God at all. Or maybe you believe in some kind of God but this Jesus.. Being God and man, dying, raising from the dead.. that’s just too much. But maybe, and this probably applies to most of us in a church service, you believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, but is there a consistency between what your lips’ say you believe and what your lifestyle expresses? You see we can say we believe but maybe a deeper question is does the way we live confirm our belief or our doubt? Doubt can be a destructive force, eroding confidence in ourselves and in God. Since Thomas’ doubt is recorded in detail let’s look at who he was, see the causes of doubt and how we can reinforce our conviction and articulate it not only with our lips but with our very lives.
I. THE CASE OF THOMAS: Who Thomas was...
It’s a shame that some people are remembered only for their mistakes; forever living down one failure or blunder in their life. For example, the name Richard Nixon immediately conjures up the "Watergate Scandal." We forget about Mr. Nixon’s positive accomplishments and we remember the negative- A President who resigned in disgrace. Not long ago President Bill Clinton was referred to at the “New Nixon” by one author because he may be remembered only for his sexual immorality with Monica Lewisinky and being impeached. If you’re into baseball the name Bill Buckner brings up a baseball blooper. We remember him for a ground ball that went through his legs that cost the Boston Red Sox the World Series in 1986. We don’t remember he batted .299 with 102 Rbi’s that same year that helped get the Red Sox into the post season. Students of public speaking remember the name of Harry Von Zell. Not for the resonant voice or 100’s of flawless introductions. But for the one time that it is said he introduced the President by saying, "Ladies and Gentlemen, here he is, the President of the United States, Mr. Hoobert Heever." Shakespeare, in Julius Caesar said, "The evil that men do lives after them. But the good is oft buried with their bones." So it is with Thomas. But many don’t remember that Thomas wasn’t the only one to doubt. The other disciples didn’t accept the resurrection at first. When the women came with the news that the tomb was empty and Jesus had risen, Luke 24:11- "They told the apostles what had happened, but the story sounded like nonsense, so they didn’t believe it."(NLT) Yet Thomas is the one who forever bears the label: “Doubting Thomas.” Maybe the reason for that is because we don’t know much about Thomas, whose name Didymus means twin. Were it not for the Gospel of John we would know nothing except he was one of Jesus’ twelve closest followers. But we have 2 snapshots of him there that are worth seeing because they help us understand why Thomas reacted the way he did to the claim that Jesus had risen.
(1) Last week we studied John 11 where Jesus was called back to Jerusalem due to the illness of Lazarus. The Scripture points out that the disciples tried to dissuade Jesus from going to Jerusalem because everyone knew that the religious leaders wanted Him dead. After some discussion Jesus simply says that he is going and in vs:16- "That’s when Thomas, the one called the Twin, said to his companions, “Come along. We might as well die with him."(Message) That shows us that Thomas was the kind of person that had a pessimistic outlook on life. Can’t you just hear it in his statement? It was good that he was loyal to the place of being a martyr but he was so very negative about the intended outcome. "Well, obviously He’s not going to listen to us. We may as well go with Him, but I’m telling you, we’re all going to die." Thomas has a “half-empty temperament.” There are some who live a “Murphy’s Law” existence that expects the worst and they usually gets it.
(2) John 14. You may know of or heard for example at a funeral the beautiful speech Jesus gave- "Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me.. I am going to prepare a place for you.. When everything is ready, I will come and get you.. you know where I am going." It was Thomas who said, "No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?"(NLT) That once again gives some insight into this man.. he had a skeptical spirit. The way that question is constructed literally says, “Lord, I don’t know what You are talking about. Be more specific about where you are going.” It just was not in Thomas’ personality to accept things at face value. He struggled a great deal with simply accepting Jesus at His Word and therefore the promise that was entailed in it.
Now, if it is your basic nature to be skeptical and see things as “half-empty,” depending on where you are in your spiritual walk, there’s going to be some things that are difficult for you. If you are not a Christian or just getting started, you may find it hard to accept Christianity, to trust all the promises. If you have been walking in the faith for some time and are negative in nature you may have a difficult time experiencing the joy of walking with Christ. But you know what? Nowhere will you find a more positive message than Christianity offers. A message that promises purpose for the present and hope for the future. So, if you are like Thomas you need to realize that you’re being robbed of the potential for yourself and this morning Jesus might being saying to you what he said to Thomas in vs:27- "Stop doubting (the Greek word means stop being faithless) and believe!
Now, understanding Thomas from these two incidents makes it easier to see why he acted the way he did after the crucifixion. I think it may even explain why he is not there at the first appearance of Christ in vs:24. We don’t know where he was but I believe based on his character that he made the same mistake that a lot of people do today- in his low time, he withdrew from the place and the people that he needed the most. Now, let’s give him some credit. He did not cut himself completely off from the disciples, he was there the next Sunday. But Thomas’ character also sheds some light on why he refused to believe what the disciples told him. Thomas was the kind of person that said, “Show me!” So when the disciples say that they have seen Jesus alive, after he had seen Him die, he basically says: "You expect me to believe that story? No way! Not until I put my finger in Jesus’ nail prints and my hand in His side, will I believe." Now, remember this isn’t just one person’s testimony. It’s 10 of his most trusted friends! You know what I would of said to him? "Are you calling us liars, Thomas? It’s not like just one of us has seen Him- Mary, Peter, the 2 on the road to Emmaus.. We’re telling you- We’ve seen Him. He was here in this room!" I might of been a little ticked or at least frustrated with him. But Thomas remains stubborn and adamantly refuses to believe.
The next Sunday Thomas is there. And I think, no sooner than Thomas arrived, Jesus arrives, passing right through the walls and locked door. But this appearance was specifically for the skeptics benefit. Jesus looks right at Him and says in vs:27- “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it to my side..” Basically reminding Thomas of his own words. I doubt Thomas even stretched his hand out- I think he fell to his knees immediately and said in awed and hush tones- "My Lord and my God!" Thomas, may have been slow to come around but once he did there was no doubt as to where his convictions were.
II. THE CAUSES OF DOUBT: Why Thomas doubted..
But why did he question this? What was the cause of his skepticism and why don’t we live lives that consistently demonstrate our faith? Let me list for you what I see as the four most common reasons for doubt, and I want you to notice that 3 out of the 4 of these causes are present in the life of Thomas.
(1) Unexplained circumstances: It’s human nature for all of us to be skeptical of things we’ve never seen or experienced. If you are inquisitive you want to understand how things happen. Thomas was a pessimist but before we are too hard on him let’s admit that most of us don’t accept a supernatural explanation very readily. Thomas was being asked to believe something that was by experience impossible. You know, many things that we thought were intellectually impossible 30 years ago are common place today. How many of us, say in 1974 would of laughed at someone who said, “One day you’ll be able to get money from a machine called an ATM 24/7!” -Or- One day you’ll be able to shop, do your banking or“Surf the net” on your computer through your telephone or cable lines?”“Surf the what?” All these changes because of our increased knowledge. And since that’s true of our human existence no wonder Isa. 40:13 asks, "Who has known the mind of the LORD or been able to give him advice?"(NCV) You see, God has superior knowledge and power so anything is possible for Him. But because we can’t explain it sometimes intellectually we doubt it.
The next cause is (2) Unjust suffering. Patch Adams had met the woman of his dreams, a fellow doctor. She confesses that her past abuse had led her to hate men -- to wish she were a butterfly so that she could get away. But now she has found new hope, and love, with him. But then she is murdered by a male patient. What Patch says to God here says it better than I can. VIDEO CLIP: Patch Adams - 2:26
You see, when unexplained suffering happens, the Sept. 11 tragedy, whole towns and lives destroyed by tornadoes, a small child killed, those things can shake our faith. We cry out like the prophet Habakkuk: “Lord, how long must I call for help? But you do not listen? Must I forever see this sin and sadness all around me?”(Hab. 2:2-3 NLT) We ask: “How can God be all loving and all powerful and allow this to happen?” And people who begin with a false concept that being a Christian will protect them from all disaster will be prone to leave the Church and forsake the faith when unjust suffering occurs. Thomas believed in Jesus. Jesus was the best man he’d ever met, the Son of God. Yet Jesus had been crucified as a criminal. Thomas’ confidence in the justice of this world must have been destroyed. He was disillusioned and like us, doubted. But sometimes when our dreams are crushed if we can just keep an open mind God can lift us up on the wings of hope of a butterfly or the laughter of a child, the love of a friend, if we will just stay open to Him.
(3) Unhealthy pride: Quite honestly, this may be the primary reason for doubt. Look at vs:25 where Thomas says.. “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.” Can’t you hear a tinge of defiance in those words? He did not say: "If I see Him..." Not even, “If I see His wounded body, I’ll believe.” He said, "I will not believe unless I see the print of the nails and put my hand in his side." Thomas was too smart to believe this craziness- “Jesus back from the grave, come on!" We all want to impress others with our sophistication and intelligence. Accepting something that is not rational is not “in.” That’s exactly why evolution came about. I mean to accept creation means you have to accept the very same theory that back woodsmen of 200 years ago accepted or that little children accept. Now, naturally if you throw it out, you’ve got to replace it..so, here’s evolution - we just popped up by chance. Psa. 10:4- "The wicked are too proud. They do not look for God; there is no room for God in their thoughts."
(4) The last cause of doubt may not of applied to Thomas here but it sure applies to us and that is: unconfessed sin. You see, unexplained circumstances and unjust suffering brings on intellectual doubt, an unhealthy ego brings on prideful doubt, but unconfessed sin brings on moral doubt. People rebel against God’s will for their lives & they feel alienated from Him. David knew what that felt like. “There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration.”(Psa. 32:3 LB) You see, rather than admit our sin and be held accountable some express doubt about the existence, or the validity of God or the Bible. Doubt becomes a convenience. It’s much easier to doubt than change.
Now, maybe today you struggle with some doubt. Let’s look at what happened to Thomas that brought him from doubt to conviction. He did several things right and by looking at them we can discover some ways to accept or to reinforce our faith.
III. THE CONVICTION FROM DOUBT:
(1) He openly admitted his doubt. It is important to understand that asking questions is not wrong. Honest seekers always ask questions, but they don’t just leave it there. Honest seekers investigate and an honest investigation will reveal the truth. Thomas had the courage to express his doubt. And if we’re going to deal effectively with doubt we must articulate it. But remember it must be expressed honestly and humbly. I love the story of the teacher tells about taking a 2nd grader to the library to help her learn to read. The book she choose for the girl only had pictures. So the teacher sat down with the child and said, "Why don’t you identify the pictures for me?" She started: "That’s a house, that’s a man, that’s a boat, that’s a top, that’s a car." She turned to a picture of a hatchet and she said, "That’s a hammer." Then she turned to the next page and there was a picture of a hammer. She looked back at the hatchet and then at the hammer, several times back and forth. Finally she closed the book and said, "You know we’re not supposed to be talking in the library." It’s hard to admit when you’re wrong. But the first step in getting rid of doubt and finding faith is to humble yourself before God. Ask questions but ask honest ones. Someone said the definition of ego was- Edging God Out. When we openly and honestly admit, "I know I’m supposed to believe but I have questions,” we are on the way to breaking the chains of doubt. It’s not a sin to doubt. Openly admit your doubt and honestly and humbly seek the answers.
(2) He positioned himself in the right place in order to find the answers. The first Sunday night after the resurrection Thomas absented himself. It was only when he was in the right place that his doubt was removed. Vs:26- “A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.”I cannot emphasize this strongly enough - If you want to strengthen your faith, if you want to climb out of the darkness of doubt- you must expose yourself to the light! Time after time I have seen people struggle in their faith and instead of staying in the light of God’s teaching and the fellowship of God’s people they withdraw, and it gets darker. By being gone that first Sunday look what Thomas missed: He missed out on the fellowship with his friends- the common bond they had that could of strengthened him. He missed out on the instruction that Jesus gave- what must it have been like to hear Jesus tell them about His death and resurrection. Luke 24:45- Jesus "opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Thomas missed that! It can all be summed up by saying- being gone that night -Thomas missed - Jesus.
And if a person says, "I’m not sure I believe" or "I’m not sure I’m growing in my faith" and yet they seldom go to Church, or they seldom read the Bible, or they don’t get involved in a small group so they can associate with committed Christians.. Their doubt is self- imposed! The next time the disciples got together Thomas was there - he wanted to believe. And Jesus appeared and what He say? "Thomas, you cynic, you pessimist. I’ve got no need for you." No, he was very patient with the honest seeker and said, "Thomas, come touch the nail prints, my side and don’t be faithless but believe.." If you want to have a strong faith, you must be willing to honestly investigate the truth.
The other thing Thomas did right was that he articulated his faith. He said, as he surrendered Himself to the living Christ- "My Lord and my God" and with that five- word statement he was saying, "It’s true, it’s true." But notice he said it out loud. One way to reinforce our faith is to express it in the presence of others. Thomas did that because he realized he didn’t have all the answers but Jesus did. So he surrendered his intellect, his skeptical spirit, he surrendered his pride, everything that he had.. And found the living Christ! What do you need to surrender? Pride? Attitude? Sin?
John finishes this chapter by clearly giving the purpose for telling about what happen to Thomas, in fact for the whole book. Vs:31- “..these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you might have life in His name.”
In 1963 Martin Luther King gave his famous “I have a dream” speech. He said he dreamed of racial equality and sometimes that’s all we hear. But he also said he had faith in God. He said, “With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to work together, pray together, struggle together.. knowing that one day we will see Jesus and then we will be free. I have a dream!” That’s a dream worth having, that’s a faith worth expressing. That’s why these incidents were written... it’s why Jesus rose from the dead.. “that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, and by believing you may have life in His name.” And that’s no dream, that’s the truth.. Isn’t it time to say like Thomas, “My Lord and my God.”
