Sermon Central
-
Whatever You Have To Do
Contributed by Christopher Crane on Mar 27, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: The call of Christianity from the perspective of the hands-on generation. It takes more than a book. More than a story. You have to TOUCH HIM. From the story of Thomas.
19 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.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, 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.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
I want us to pay particularly close attention to two particular verses; Verse 25… and verse 27. The second part of verse 25 is the expression of Thomas.
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.
Then verse 27…
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Today, “Whatever You Need To Do.”
It’s amazing to me the lengths to which God will go. He loves while we are yet sinners. He loved so much that He gave His only begotten Son. While we were yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly; that neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Though He was rich, for our sakes became poor. Even though we were dead in sins, He’s quickened us together in Christ. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. (1 John 3:1)
The lengths He has gone to, to help us understand. And He still goes to those lengths today, my friend. He still tolerates our weakness and our searching. He’s not high pressure. He deals with us in our searching, in our grasping, and in our doubting. As a matter of fact, Paul said this about God:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
He’s tolerant; patient; enduring; longsuffering. And so the crux of the story… the most powerful expression of who God really is – EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US. He was MURDERED. He was innocent, and yet broken. Then resurrected the third day… Scripture says that He revealed himself first to Cephas (or Peter) and then to the twelve. Finally, to over 500 at one time.
This is the point in the story just after he had revealed himself to the 11, and yet one remained. One who had not been with the others. The skeptic. The one who is not going to buy into this thing hook, line and sinker. He’s Thomas; the doubter. Thomas, the no nonsense; logical; his attitude was, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
“I watched him die, and your word isn’t going to convince me that He’s alive… I have to experience Him myself.”
Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails… unless I put my finger into the print of the nails… unless I thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. I’ve got to experience this Jesus on more than just a testimonial level. I’ve got to live Him, or I don’t want Him at all. I’ve got to experience the sacrifice or it’s not relevant to me. No offense, but your word is not good enough. I’ve got to touch Him myself.
