March 22, 2016

DO BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST...


DO BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

In John 20:24-31 we have an account of Thomas, a man who, at first, didn’t believe in Jesus’ resurrection.

Seeing and Believing

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
So he said to them, “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.”
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
That You May Believe
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.


1.  NOTICE THOMAS’ CONDITION OF UNBELIEF (vv. 24, 25)

There is:
DISINTEREST – “Now Thomas was not with them…”
DISREGARD – “We have seen the Lord…Unless I see”
DISBELIEF – “I will not believe”

2.  NOTICE THOMAS’ TRANSITION TO BELIEF (vv. 26,26)

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS – “Jesus came…”
THE POWER OF JESUS – “…the doors being shut…”
THE PEACE OF JESUS – “Peace to you!”
THE PERSONAL ATTENTION OF JESUS – “Then He said to him…”
THE POINTED COMMAND OF JESUS – “Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

3.  NOTICE THOMAS’ EXPRESSION OF BELIEF (v. 28)

“My Lord and my God!” (This is so very personal, Thomas using the pronoun “my”)


-dr. dick christen