Jesus Helps Me Believe (John 20:19-29)

Do you have a nickname? If so, do you like the nickname? Sometimes we get a nickname we like (e.g., T-Bone!), sometimes we get a nickname we don’t like (e.g., Tiny). Imagine being Thomas, the disciple of Jesus. What nickname do you know him by? At first, he was known as “Twin” (Didymous). Most of us, however, call him “Doubting” Thomas because he would not believe Jesus was alive unless he saw Him himself. Is this nickname fair? This morning we shall study this moment of doubt in Thomas’ life and learn that Jesus responds to our doubts with peace and the assurance that we already have everything we need to believe.

Thomas Knows Jesus

Thomas is a faithful follower of Jesus. While Thomas has become infamous for his doubt, this is only a small part of what we are told about Thomas in the Bible. In fact, the first recorded instance of him speaking is when Jesus was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. The disciples cautioned Jesus about visiting Jerusalem; saying, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” (John 11:8). Jesus said He was going regardless of what the Jews intended to do. Thomas spoke up and boldly said to the other disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (John 11:16). Thomas was committed to Jesus and willing to give his life for Him.

The next time Thomas is specifically mentioned, He is asking Jesus to explain more clearly His statement: “I go and prepare a place for you…” (John 14:3). Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5). This was a good question and asked in faith. Jesus’ response to Thomas’ question is one of the most famous verses in the entire bible! Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Thomas knows that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Thomas Missed Jesus

Thomas missed Jesus’ appearance in which He gave peace to His fearful disciples. You have heard of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Where was he? We are not told. All we know is that “Thomas…was not with them when Jesus came” (20:24). Jesus appeared, even though the doors were locked for fear of the Jews, to His disciples and said, “Peace be with you” (20:19). Jesus proved He was actually present with them when He “showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord” (20:20).

What a meeting he missed! Jesus did not just appear to show them His hands and side, He came to commission them to be His witnesses to the world. He once again said, “Peace to you!” Then added, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Next, Jesus “breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any they are retained’” (20:22-23). The Holy Spirit was given to the disciples at the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) a few weeks later, so what is Jesus doing here? Jesus is promising that the disciples will receive the Holy Spirit and this will result in their boldness as they witness for Christ. In this witness, they will urge people to be reconciled to the Father through the Son who offers them forgiveness of sin. This forgiveness is proclaimed through the declaration of the Gospel by the Church: who has been given the keys to the kingdom (Matt 16) and can offer forgiveness of sin (20:23).

Thomas Doubts Jesus

Thomas doubted; it is true. There is no denying it or explaining it away. We call him “Doubting” Thomas because he refused to believe Jesus was alive. He said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Thomas did not want to hear from the other disciples, he wanted to literally touch the wounds on Jesus’ body as proof before he would believe. Before we beat up on Thomas, let us remember that he was most likely in shock. He had fled when Jesus was arrested. He knew Jesus had been brutally crucified. Thomas had been with Jesus for three years. He saw Jesus heal the sick, walk on water, raise the dead, and many other miracles. He had also seen Jesus betrayed, mocked, scourged, and crucified. Thomas knew that Jesus had died, and he had a difficult time believing that Jesus was actually alive. We do not know why Thomas was not present when Jesus appeared to the other disciples, but when they told him what happened he would not/could not believe. Thomas knew Jesus was dead, but couldn’t believe He was alive.

Thomas Believes Jesus

Eight days later, Jesus appeared and graciously asked Thomas to believe. Jesus appeared and once again told them, “Peace to you!” He then looked at Thomas and told Him to do what Thomas said he wanted to do: “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.” Thomas doubted that Jesus was alive and wanted verifiable proof. Jesus, in an act of great mercy, verified that He is the One who had died and is now resurrected. Jesus loved Thomas and told Him, “Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered immediately in joyful faith testifying: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

We are blessed to have Thomas’ interactions with Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John. We get Thomas’ bold faith on display when he said, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (John 11:16). We have His important question that leads the Lord to declare that He is the only means of salvation and access to the Father (John 14:6). We also get through Thomas definitive proof that Jesus is God. In the Bible, if someone who is not God is called “God” or “a god”, they either accepted it with grave consequences (Acts 12:22-23) or quickly (and appropriately) denied it (Acts 10:25-26, 14:15 & Rev 19:10, 22:8-9). Thomas called Jesus, “My Lord and my God” and Jesus did not rebuke Him or deny it. This is proof that Thomas’ confession is true and Jesus is Lord and God.

Moments of doubt will come to genuine believers. In these moments we are tempted to ask/demand clear evidence that Jesus cares about us. In Thomas’ moment of doubt, Jesus graciously responded with the clear evidence that Thomas asked for to help him believe. This reminds us that Jesus can (and sometimes does) provide us with clear definitive answers to exactly what we need. But, Jesus doesn’t promise to always do so. He said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (20:29). The greater blessing is to those who do not see but still believe. Jesus responds to our doubts with peace and the assurance that we already have everything we need to believe. We don’t have to continually ask God to show us a sign so that we can believe. We need to trust the Lord and rest in His promises and faithfulness.