## From Unbelief to Confidence

## John 20:24-29

Immediately when we read this passage there are a number of questions that come to mind about Thomas.

1. Why was Thomas not with the other disciples when they met on the evening of Resurrection Day?

2. Was he so disappointed that he did not want to be with his friends?

3. Perhaps Thomas was afraid, but his previous statements didn't indicate this.

(John 11:16) "Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him."

4. Maybe he just didn't care that much about spiritual matters or had something more important to do that Sunday, but he appeared to be genuinely interested in the truth, and wasn't afraid to ask questions.

(John 14:5) "Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?"

5. There seems to have been a "pessimistic" outlook in Thomas, and often he is referred to as "Doubting Thomas," but Jesus did not rebuke him for his doubts. He rebuked him for unbelief: "Be not faithless, but believing."

6. Doubt is often an intellectual problem: we want to believe, but the faith is overwhelmed by problems and questions.

7. Unbelief is a moral problem; we simply will not believe.

I. What was it that Thomas would not believe?

A. The reports of the other Christians that Jesus Christ was alive.

1. The reports of Jesus' resurrection were coming from many sources.

2. These were repeated to Thomas over and over.

3. The other disciples had seen the Lord Jesus Christ alive.

4. No doubt the women and the Emmaus pilgrims also added their witness to this testimony.

B. We might admire Thomas for wanting personal experience; but the real problem was his laying down conditions for the Lord to meet.

1. The other ten men had told Thomas that they had seen the Lord's hands and side (John 20:20), so Thomas made that the test.

2. Thomas had been there when Jesus raised Lazarus, so why should he question our Lord's own resurrection?

3. But, he still wanted proof; "seeing is believing."

4. Before we are too hard on Thomas, let's think…

5. How often we have refused to believe, and have insisted that God prove Himself to us!

II. Thomas' words help us to understand the difference between doubt and unbelief.

A. Doubt says, "I cannot believe! There are too many problems!"

B. Unbelief says, "I will not believe unless you give me the evidence I ask for!"

C. Jesus had heard Thomas' words; nobody had to report them to Him.

1. So, the next Lord's Day, the Lord appeared in the room (again, the doors were locked) and dealt personally with Thomas and his unbelief.

2. He still greeted them with "Peace!"

3. Even Thomas' unbelief could not rob the other disciples of their peace and joy in the Lord.

4. There is no record that Thomas ever accepted the Lord's invitation.

5. When the time came to prove his faith, Thomas needed no more proof!

D. Thomas was faced with his own words, and he had to make a decision. [5]

(John 20:29a) "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed…"

1. John 20:29 indicates that Thomas' testimony did not come from his touching Jesus…

2. But from his seeing Jesus.

3. It is an encouragement to us to know that the Lord had a personal interest in and concern for Thomas.

4. He wanted to strengthen his faith and include him in the blessings that lay in store for His followers.

III. Thomas reminds us that unbelief robs us of blessings and opportunities.

A. It may sound sophisticated and intellectual to question what Jesus did, but such questions are usually evidence of hard hearts, not of searching minds.

B. Thomas represents the "scientific approach" to life-and it did not work!

1. After all, when a skeptic says, "I will not believe unless-" he is already admitting that he does believe!

2. He believes in the validity of the test or experiment that he has devised!

3. If he can have faith in his own "scientific approach," why can he not have faith in what God has revealed?

C. We all live by faith.

1. The question is what is the object of our faith?

2. Christians put their faith in God and His Word, while unsaved people put their faith in themselves.

3. Will you listen to Jesus this morning?

4. He rebukes Thomas and says, "…Be not faithless, but believing".

5. This morning, will you heed that rebuke? Believe in Jesus and the power of His resurrection today.

(John 20:31) "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."