Jesus Appears to Thomas (John 20:24-29)

This sermon was preached on 4/12/2011

We noted in the previous study that some commentators regard the appearance of Jesus to his disciples on the evening of the resurrection day as confirming the change of the day of worship from the seventh day to the first day of the week. This second appearance to the disciples on the next Lord’s Day, as once again they met together, adds emphasis to the possibility that they had begun already to meet together on the first day of the week. Albert Barnes summarizes why this is the case: ‘From this it appears that they thus early set apart this day for assembling together, and Jesus countenanced it by appearing twice with them. It was natural that the apostles should observe this day, but not probable that they would do it without the sanction of the Lord Jesus. His repeated presence gave such a sanction, and the historical fact is indisputable that from this time this day was observed as the Christian day of worship.’

Because part of the previous week was connected to the annual Feast of Unleavened Bread in the Jewish religious calendar, it is possible, as David Brown suggests, that the disciples ‘probably met every day during the preceding week, but their Lord designedly reserved His second appearance among them till the recurrence of His resurrection day, that He might thus inaugurate the delightful sanctities of the Lord’s Day (Re 1:10).’

Although John says this second meeting was eight days after the previous one, he is describing a week of days in an inclusive sense, including both Sundays in the total. It is generally assumed that this second meeting also occurred in the same location in Jerusalem as did the first one. Yet it is possible that this second meeting took place somewhere else, even in Galilee.

1. The absence of Thomas

John does not tell us why Thomas was absent when Jesus appeared to the other disciples on the evening of the resurrection day. David Brown comments that ‘The fact merely is here stated, as a loving apology for his slowness of belief.’

It is John, of the Gospel writers, who gives the most details about Thomas. He records his response to Jesus’ decision to go to Bethany after Lazarus had died, a situation wrought with danger because of the opposition Jesus faced. Thomas’ response to go there with Jesus, even although he expected to die there with Jesus, indicates that he had a measure of loyalty to his Master (John 11). John also records Thomas’ question in John 14 concerning the destination of Jesus. It is difficult to say what Thomas’ problem was in that passage; it could have been lack of understanding. In any case, his intervention suggests that he was not shy in asking questions.

Both these aspects of loyalty and willingness to ask for clarification should be borne in mind when asking why Thomas was absent when the disciples met together on the resurrection day. Although his absence is given a negative assessment by many, the Bible does not indicate that Thomas was rebuked for his non-attendance, although he was rebuked for his subsequent expression of unbelief regarding the presence of the risen Saviour. There are many possible reasons for his absence: he was separate from the other disciples and had not been told that Jesus was alive; he was engaged in an important activity that prevented him attending; he was afraid of arrest and thought it unwise to meet together.

The point is that Thomas was not there and so missed out on this blessing. I think this is a reminder that there will always be a special blessing when God’s people come together. Obviously, we should make it our aim to attend as many meetings as possible, because we miss the particular blessing given at each of them. In a sense, God can give a blessing to us when we are prevented from being present, but it will not be as profound as that in the public means of grace.

2. The fervour of the disciples

In one way or another, the disciples had made contact with Thomas. Fresh love in their hearts for Thomas wanted him to experience the wonderful reality of Christ’s resurrection. John uses the imperfect tense when referring to the words of the disciples, indicating that they were telling Thomas repeatedly that Jesus was alive. It is likely that the disciples, in their description of the Lord’s appearance, had focused on the marks on his hands and side, which led to Thomas’ rather cruel comment that he would not believe unless he could touch these wounds.

The disciples discovered that Thomas would not listen to them. He persisted in this outlook despite their enthusiastic description of what had taken place. Why was this? It seems to me that two words can describe Thomas’ outlook: he was a pessimist and he was a realist. These two characteristics are seen, for example, in his response to Jesus’ decision to go to the home of Lazarus. These two traits often go together, just as optimism and idealism can go together. People marked by pessimism and realism are not changed in their outlook merely by the repeated enthusiasm of others.

This is something that we need to learn as we tell others about what God has done for us. We are not to think that their inner response will be the same as ours. They need something more than another person’s testimony; they need to experience it themselves. Obviously there are differences between our situation and the one described here by John. The experience Thomas needed was to meet the risen Christ physically; after all, he had known Jesus physically and was aware of his death; it was also the way that the other disciples had met Jesus. The experience we need is to meet Jesus by faith, which is how those who witness to us have met him. We need a similar experience, but it must be a personal experience. Just as the faith of the ten disciples was not sufficient for Thomas’ lack of faith, so the faith of Christians today is not a substitute for the lack of faith that marks many people.

3. Thomas dictates the terms

Thomas’ response to the message of the disciples, at first glance, might seem to be a desire to base his faith on personal experience; the reality is that he desired a means of contact with Jesus that was not based on faith at all. He is an example of the type of person who will only believe when he is given a personal miracle. The fact is that Thomas did not believe that Jesus had been raised from the dead and he expressed his unbelief in as strong language as he could.

This outlook is very common. People often say that if God does this or that for me, then I will believe in him. Usually they say this in a time of serious illness or other form of stress. Such realise that only God can help in such a situation, therefore prayer is made about it, and often made earnestly, and accompanied by promises of serving God. Yet once the crisis is over, many people forget about their promise to God.

As we think about such an attitude, we realise that the person is ignoring the fact that God has already done something for him – he has sent his Son to be the Saviour. In reality, any other sign that God would give is vastly inferior to that of giving his Son. Jesus himself said so when he told his contemporaries that the only sign they would be given would be his resurrection after three days. If they don’t believe what God says in the Bible, they won’t believe in any other way. We are not to dictate to God.

Thomas’ response should have involved taking the disciples’ testimony at face value and bringing it before God in prayer. He should have cried, ‘Jesus, if you are alive as my friends say, please reveal yourself to me.’

4. Thomas discovers the truth

In any case, Thomas found himself with the other disciples as they met together. I suppose they had a sense of anticipation. The disciples would desire that Jesus would join them and perhaps Thomas was a bit apprehensive what would happen. As it was, Jesus did appear and the first thing he did was bring a sense of peace into the room. He gave the same greeting as when he met them on the previous Lord’s Day: ‘Peace be with you.’

This greeting reminds us that Jesus does not change in his desires for us to know his blessings. Although Thomas had been strong in unbelief, he was no worse than the other disciples in this regard for prior to the meeting when Jesus appeared to them they had refused to listen to the testimony of the women. Jesus treated Thomas in the same way that he had treated the disciples of the previous Sunday.

Thomas discovered that, despite his vehement words, Jesus wanted him to have peace from heaven in his soul. It is the same for those of us who have said something similar to Jesus. He draws near to this gathering that we are having and desires each of us to know his peace.

It was within this environment of peace that Jesus proceeds to speak to Thomas, to rebuke him. C. H. Spurgeon reminds us of an important aspect of the Saviour’s manner of rebuke here: ‘The whole conversation was indeed a rebuke, but so veiled with love that Thomas could scarcely think it so.’ That is a lesson to us as to how to deal with those who have offended us.

Not, too, the persistence of Jesus in ensuring that each of his chosen disciples would meet with him. We can imagine some leaders concluding that such a wilful servant as Thomas was best discarded. But that was not and is not Jesus’ way. In contrast to what others might do, he was determined to complete his preparation of his servant Thomas and enable him to become an apostle. Thomas here experienced the gentle teaching manner of Jesus (Matt. 11:29), who as the sculptor of people’s souls, does not give up on any of his projects.

Yet Thomas must see the error of his words, so Jesus repeats the words of Thomas with the same emphasis as Thomas had given, even to quoting his word ‘thrust’ and urging him to do what he had stated. Jesus also balances Thomas’ statement that he would not believe with ‘be not faithless, but believing’. Of course, Thomas was overcome by the sight of Jesus’s wounds that he could not possibly follow through with his threat. Nevertheless, what which happened to Thomas literally needs to happen to us spiritually. We need to have Jesus show us our sins in the light of his wounds. Sometimes we see our sins in light of other standards. For example, we can compare ourselves to other people and it is not difficult to find those who are worse than us; such comparison can lead to pride that we are better than others or to resolve to do better in the future without dealing with past failures. Another means of seeing our sins is to do so in the light of the law of God; that is a good way, but if it is the only way it will lead us to despair because the law has no means of showing mercy for our failures and transgressions. The best way is to view our sins in the light of the Saviour’s work on the cross, which is what Thomas did.

5. Thomas declares his trust

In the presence of the Conqueror of death, the Saviour of his soul, the Forgiver of his sins, Thomas confesses his personal relationship with the risen Christ. What joy must have been in the heart of Jesus as he heard this marvellous confession! Thomas declared, ‘My Lord and my God!’

This is an astonishing confession. As Spurgeon noted, in a sermon on this passage, Thomas ‘was the first divine who ever taught the Deity of Christ from his wounds. Nor has every divine since then been able to see the Deity of Christ in his wounded humanity risen from the dead.’ And David Brown’s assessment is true as well: ‘His exclamation surpasses all that had been yet uttered, nor can it be surpassed by anything that ever will be uttered in earth or heaven.’

So Thomas’ response is an appropriate confession. Anything less would have been inappropriate. It would not have been enough for Thomas to say that Jesus was a wonderful Teacher or a great miracle worker. Only a confession of his deity was now sufficient.

Thomas’ words are also a model confession, in the sense that it is one that we all should make. Calling him ‘Lord’ indicates that Thomas affirmed that he was a servant of the only Master; calling him ‘God’ indicates that Thomas affirmed that he was a creature made and upheld by Jesus. Thomas’ inserting of ‘my’ before ‘Lord’ and ‘God’ stresses that there was a real union between him and Jesus. We can say the same. Thomas began this new stage in his life with this wonderful declaration. We can begin each day by saying it to Jesus.

6. Jesus distinguishes between responses

We sometimes imagine that it would be a lot easier to believe in Jesus if we had lived when he was on earth. Seeing his miracles, hearing his teaching, enjoying his company would have a strong effect on us, we imagine. Yet the reality is that very few believed in Jesus as a result of these privileges. We should not forget that many people saw the wounds of Christ as he travelled to Golgotha and as he hung naked on the cross, and were unimpressed.

Perhaps Jesus has in mind all the millions down the centuries who would hear the story of his resurrection but would not be given the privilege of seeing his physical shape. They could say suspect that their conversion would not be as blessed as that of Thomas because they had an inferior experience. Jesus assures us that faith without visible signs is also a door into a state of divine blessing.

Faith involves dependence arising out of trust in Christ’s character. We listen to the testimony of his servants, including that of Thomas, and we respond by committing our souls into his hands. On this second Sunday of the Christian era, Jesus gave a promise to us as well as to the apostles.