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PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE

Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; John 11:16; 20::24-29; 21:2; Acts 1:13

Introduction:

The apostle Thomas is widely known as "Doubting Thomas." His name is most often associated with doubt and weak faith. Some have concluded that Thomas was a very pessimistic or melancholy sort of person.

I believe that we will see that this is not necessarily true by examining the passages that give insights into the person of Thomas. In the passages where he expresses doubt or concern we will find that there is an open honesty about him and that in no case can his love for and devotion to the Lord Jesus be seriously questioned.

In searching the Scriptures we find that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts merely list his name along with the other apostles. However, John records three instances where Thomas speaks and these incidents give us what information we have about the character of the man.

I.         THE BACKGROUND OF THE MAN THOMAS CONSIDERED.

            A.        He is called Thomas and he is called Didymus.

                        1.         Both of these names mean twin.

                                    a.         Thomas is the Hebrew name.

                                    b.         Didymus is the Greek name.

                        2.         He was apparently a twin.

                                    a.         Some have concluded that Matthew was his twin because they are linked together in the lists of the apostles but there is no real foundation for these conclusions.

                                    b.         An older tradition says his twin was a sister named Lysia.

                                    c.         The truth of the matter is we don’t know who his twin was so we really should not speculate.

            B.        We are told nothing about his salvation or his call to serve.

            C.        Some have concluded that he was a fisherman before his salvation on the basis of his joining Peter, James, and John on a fishing expedition.    (John 21:2-3)

            D.        We know that he was a Jew and that he probably came from Galilee. Acts 1:11

II.       SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES DEALING WITH THOMAS CONSIDERED.

            A.        He Showed A Willingness To Die With Jesus. (John 11:16)

                        1.         The context has to do with the death of Lazarus in Bethany.

                        2.         Jesus was preparing to go to an area that held much danger for Him and His disciples. (John 8:58-59; 10:30-33)

                        3.         Thomas' statement tells us several things about him. 11:16

                                    a.         He had a great love for Jesus.

                                    b.         He had great loyalty to Jesus.

                                    c.         His faith was as strong as any other disciple.

                                    d.         He may have had a tendency to look on the dark side of events.

                                                1)        He faced the realities of life head on.

                                                2)        His love and devotion did not falter in face of adversity.

                                                3)        He wanted to be with Jesus whatever the cost.

                        He Showed A Willingness To Die With Jesus.

            B.        He Questioned Jesus When Jesus Said He Was Going Away To Prepare A Place. (John 14:1-6.)

                        1.         Neither Thomas nor any of the other disciples had fully comprehended Jesus' teaching at this point.

                                    a.         All of them had expected Jesus to set up His kingdom and reign on the throne of David.

                                    b.         All of them had heard Jesus speak of His death, burial, and resurrection, but had failed to understand Him.

                        2.         Jesus told them that He was going to His Father's house to prepare a place. He said they knew the place and the way there. John 14:1-4

                        3.         Thomas failed to understand and so he asked questions. John 14:5

                                    a.         Thomas was unsure if Jesus were talking about earthly or heavenly things.

                                    b.         One reason he failed to understand was that he probably assumed that he knew more than he really did.

                                    c.         Thomas did understand that Jesus was leaving and that fact brought much pain to him.

                        4.         Thomas asked a two-fold question.

                                    a.         We know not wither thou goest. (i.e. Where are you going?)

                                    b.         How can we know the way?

                        5.         Thomas' questions reveal that he genuinely wanted to know the truth.

                        6.         Thomas' questions likely reflected the thoughts of the entire group.

                        7.         Jesus' reply to Thomas provides us with an all-important truth–and that is this, Jesus is all we need for time and eternity.

                                    a.         Jesus Is The Way To God–The Way without which there is no going.

                                    b.         Jesus Is The Truth Of God–The Truth without which there is no knowing.

                                    c.         Jesus Is The Life Of God– The Life without which there is no living.

            C.        Thomas Met With The Resurrected Christ. (John 20:24-29)

                        1.         Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared to the group. (Vs. 24)

                                    a.         It is not known why he was not there or where he was.

                                    b.         It is possible that in his grief Thomas wanted to spend time alone.

                        2.         Thomas rejected the testimony of the other disciples about seeing Jesus. (Vs. 25)

                                    a.         These same disciples had been skeptical at the report of the women.

                                    b.         Thomas chose to remain with the disciples though not convinced they had seen the resurrected Christ.

                                    c.         In his heart broken condition Thomas did not want to open himself up to further hurt. 

                                    d.         Thomas' doubt was that of a man who, in his heart, truly wanted to believe.

                        3.         The Lord appeared again with Thomas present. (Vs 26-29)

                                    a.         Jesus personally asked Thomas to touch and handle him.

                                                1)        Thomas is being rebuked in a loving way.

                                                2)        Thomas' honest doubts are being settled.

                                    b.         Thomas confessed Jesus as “My Lord and my God."

                                                1)        This statement shows Thomas to be a Believer with no reservations.

                                                2)        This is a statement that clearly sets forth the deity of Jesus.

Conclusion

So we see that Thomas was a man with an honest mind and a heroic heart.

When he saw what he ought to do, nothing kept him back.

When he saw what he ought to do, he only wanted to see how he was to do it.

When he saw what it was he had to believe, he only wanted to see that it was right. 

Thomas is believed to have done a great work in India.

Tradition says that he spent his life preaching, witnessing, and started eight churches before being martyred in India

The Mar Thoma Church in India today claims to have descended from Thomas' converts.

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