Article by Dr. Les Hollon, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church

 

Doubting Thomas is what most people call him.  The nickname “doubting” stuck to the Apostle because three times, at key points in Jesus’ ministry, he asked Jesus to explain himself.

 

Does asking God to clarify Himself mean that we lack faith?  Maybe.  It can be our way of stiff-arming God to keep Him at a distance, and our commitments to Him at a minimum.  Or, asking questions can be our faithful response of wanting more information, insight, and instruction so our faith in God can be best applied.

 

Which was it for Thomas?  Which is it for you?

 

Doubt expressed from the lips of Thomas came from his heart of faith.  Doubts formed in the mind of Thomas caused him to be more certain in his faith.

 

Thomas placed his doubts in the hands of God so his own hands would not be unnerved by what the future would demand of him.  He knew that the stakes of following Jesus were as high as heaven, and costly as the cross. Thomas shows us how to use doubt in the service of faith.

 

First, after questioning whether Jesus really wanted to put his life at risk by going near Jerusalem in order to help His friend Lazarus, Thomas said - upon seeing Jesus walking in that direction – “Let us go also, that we may die with him.” (John 11:1-16).

 

Secondly, after Jesus told the Apostles to not let their hearts be troubled because they would know the way to be with Him after His death, Thomas said, “Lord we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?”  Thomas’ question set up Jesus to give the most powerful response, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, one comes to the Father through me.” (John 14:1-6).

 

Thomas’ third doubt came after his heart was crushed upon seeing Jesus die on the cross.  He felt betrayed.  He was depressed.  His doubt led the resurrected Jesus to reveal Himself to Thomas.  Upon seeing Him, Thomas’ crisis of faith was healed and he gave one of the most beautiful testimonies in Scripture, “My Lord and my God.”  (John 20:24-29).

 

Where are your doubts leading you?  Let them lead you to your Lord and your God.

 

A faith that sees through doubt sets us free to live through the resurrected presence of Christ.  Our fears of death find a resting place in Christ’s empty tomb.

 

On his death bed, Cotton Mather said, “Is this dying?  Is this all?  Is this what I feared when I prayed against a hard death?  Oh, I can bear this!  I can bear it!”

 

Thomas wanted to know and trust what was truly real.  His soulful pursuit is also our quest.   

 

Pastor Les Hollon

 

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight?  A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light.

-John 11:5-9 (NIV)

 

Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

-John 11:16 (NIV)

 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

-John 14:1-6 (NIV)

 

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 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 it.”

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!”

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.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

-John 20:24-29 (NIV)

 

This article was written by Les Hollon, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church.  For more information about God and your place in His world, contact Dr. Hollon, click over to Trinity Baptist Church.

 

If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or Digg. Thanks!