JOHN 20:24-31
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.”
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.
JOHN 20:24-31 JESUS: THERE IS LIFE IN HIS NAME
Springford Baptist Church: April 24, 2022.
When have you thought that you had missed out on seeing someone and then the chance comes again?
Sometimes someone will be visiting from away and there is only a limited opportunity to see that person. Perhaps you are sick or something else comes up and you feel that you have missed your chance. Of course, you are disappointed. How amazing, if that person really wanting to have time with you arranges for another chance, another time to be together and to renew relationship. This time you won’t miss it!
We now find ourselves, at this time, following our celebration of the miracle of Easter. In our ongoing exploration of KNOWING GOD BY KNOWING JESUS, today’s Scripture from John 20 confirms for us that God really does want us to believe and to discover life through Jesus His Son. God does not want anyone to miss this chance to believe.
As today’s Scripture reveals, Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples had not been with the other disciples when Jesus came and appeared to them. (John 20:24) This had been on the evening of that first day of the week, that first Easter Sunday when it was discovered that Jesus truly had been raised back to life. (John 20:19)
I can imagine that for that whole week following, this appearance of the risen Lord Jesus had been the compelling topic of conversation among the disciples. It can be a feeling of exclusion when others are talking excitedly about something of which we have not been part. We cannot enter into their excitement because we were not there with them.
We know that the disciples did try to have Thomas enter into their joy. They did tell him in animated tones, “We have seen the Lord!” (John 20:25a)
And what is Thomas’s response? He replies, “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.” (John 20:25b)
God wants Thomas to believe. He lovingly cares for Thomas and understands what will be necessary in order for him to believe. So what happens next?
We read, 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.” (John 20:26,27)
It is obvious to us that Thomas takes a firm hold on this chance, at this moment to believe when he exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
Jesus knew what was necessary in order for Thomas to believe and He supplied that. We pause here to recognize how much our loving God wants each person to believe and to have life in the Name of Jesus. This speaks in a powerful Way to knowing our God as One Who longs for us to know Him and to believe.
God does not want anyone to miss out on the chance for everlasting life by trusting Jesus as the only One who can save us.
Don’t you feel moved by the next statement that Jesus makes? Jesus says, ““Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) That’s us that Jesus is talking about! Yes, that’s us. That’s all those down through the years who have not seen and yet have believed that Jesus is the Son of God. At that moment over 2000 years ago, we were on Jesus’ mind. He was wanting us to have the chance to believe and to receive life in His Name.
Knowing that God wants us to know Him and to believe in Him and receive life proves that we matter greatly to our God. Again God does not want anyone to miss the best of what He has to offer, which is everlasting life through Jesus His Son.
This believing though not having seen is possible because of the testimony that we can read in Scripture.
John explains, 30“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name.
God wants us to have every chance possible to believe that Jesus is the Messiah the Son of God and by believing to have life in His Name.
We all know people who have not yet believed and been impacted by the miracle of Jesus’ resurrection. These people are among our family members and friends. Sometimes they have had a connection with church at one time, but God and the things of God seem to matter little to them now. It appears that life can become filled with everything else but God. Often these same people will ask for prayer or will reach out to God themselves when there is a crisis. This indicates that there is a believing in God, but it has not gone that step further to receive Jesus as Saviour and to have life in his Name.
God does want each person to have every chance possible to receive the gift of salvation. I wonder, is it also our intense longing for others to believe in Jesus and to experience life in his Name?
This is not something to be casual about. As we KNOW GOD BY KNOWING JESUS, will we commit to also make Him known?
We can trust God in this whole matter of knowing God and then being used by God to make Him known.
The chance to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and to have life in his Name is not something to keep to ourselves!