Doubting Thomas (Easter Day 4)

Easter Thursday: Doubting Thomas

PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.

READ: John 20:24-29

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “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.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

UNDERSTAND: What is the main idea of this passage?

Like all the other disciples, Thomas doubted the resurrection. We can’t single him out as the only skeptic. It was only when Jesus revealed Himself did they believe. The same is true for us today. We don’t believe until Christ reveals Himself to us. Notice that when Thomas sees Jesus and believes, he calls Jesus “My Lord and my God!” True faith leads us to submit to Christ as Lord and not just as Savior.

APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?

Everyone likes to pick on doubting Thomas. But if we were honest with ourselves we would have to admit that we are just like him. There was a time, a maybe still times, when we doubted. What you may not know is that before Thomas doubted he was confident and brave. Take a moment to read John 11:1-16. At one time, Thomas was ready to die with Jesus. In that sense, maybe Thomas was more committed that we originally thought.

What doubts have you been struggling with lately?

Is Jesus really your Lord, or just your Savior?

Is it even possible to separate those two titles?

PRAY: Ask God to help you with your doubts through studying His Word.