Don't Miss Out!

John 20:28

Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus has been known as a "doubter."
He wanted proof of the resurrection of Jesus, and he demanded to examine
the nailprints before he would believe.
The nickname given to Thomas contains an element of truth,
but it also somewhat misleading.

If doubt was his outstanding characteristic, then it was honest doubt.
Thomas had a questioning mind that desired to know the truth.
When he was convinced of the truth, he followed the truth wholeheartedly.
It has been suggested that a better nickname for Thomas would be "questioning Thomas".

In John 11:1-16, we learned of his brave pessimism.
Our first glimpse of Thomas in action comes toward the close of the ministry of Jesus,
just before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
Though Jesus was immensely popular, the religious leaders hated him.

More than once the religious leaders had tried to incite the mobs to stone Jesus to death.
Leaving the danger zone of Jerusalem, Jesus led His disciples to the comparative safety of Pera,
across the Jordan from Judea.
While they were there, word reached them that Lazarus, the beloved friend of Jesus,
was seriously ill.

We need to notice the disciples reaction about returning to Judea.
For a moment, no one said anything.
But while they looked away in the distance, Thomas spoke up,
"Let us go, that we may die with Him." (Verse 16)
He was ready to follow Jesus back to Bethany, even if it meant death.

Though he was devoted, gloom and disaster was reflected in his voice.
Some would have called him a dedicated pessimist.
But others have served Jesus Christ with such problems.

For instance, Martin Luther head fits of depression, even throwing an Inkwell at the devil.
John Bunyan wrote of Doubting Castle and Giant Despair.
From the very depths of despair, the prophet Elijah prayed,
"It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life." (1 Kings 19:4)
Even David cried out, expressing his mood: "Why art thou cast down, O my soul?"
(Psalm 42:5)

In John 14:1-7, we see the bewilderment of Thomas.
The second incident revealing the character of Thomas took place in the Upper Room
on the eve of the resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus had just observed the Passover, and was giving His farewell address.

The disciples were devastated!
Their cherished hopes and dreams of recent months were quickly dissipating.
They were sure that their earlier fears of danger in Jerusalem were about to come true.
But Jesus was trying to make them understand that it was not the end,
but it was really the beginning.

He said in John 2-3: "I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also."
Jesus was trying to get them to see the great blessings that were beyond the Cross.

Then, Jesus added the statement that puzzled Thomas.
Jesus said in verse 4: "And whither I go ye know, and the way you know."
Thomas blurted out, "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest;
and how can we know the way?"

Thomas was unable to comprehend that the mission of Jesus reached beyond
the boundaries of death.
He wondered how Jesus could establish an earthly kingdom if He returned to heaven.
Perhaps, his question stemmed more from confusion than unbelief.
The question of Thomas contained a certain amount of honest doubt.

Thomas represents those people who must have reasons for everything.
However, the Christian faith does not let us see life all worked out in advance,
but requires that we walk by faith.
To know Christ is sufficient.

Whatever the attitude of Thomas was in asking that question,
we shall be forever indebted to him because of the answer that Jesus gave.
Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth, and the life;
and no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." (Verse 6)
To know God and to reach heaven, we must go through Christ.
He is the giver of eternal life.
In John 20:24-28, we see the honest skepticism of Thomas.

The third occasion where Thomas is mentioned in John's Gospel concerns the resurrection.
The gloom of Thomas reached its lowest ebb with the cross and the tomb.
For some reason, he was not present that first night when Jesus appeared to the disciples
in the Upper Room after the resurrection of Jesus.

We don't know why he was missing.
He might have been like others who missed the meeting -- "I had so many things to do" ...
Or "I worked hard all week" ... "I don't see any reason to be there" ...

Someone wrote a confession titled, "Lord, I Lied!"
It went like this: "Almighty God, as I sit here tonight, surrounded by newspapers
and half watching television, it has just come to me that I have lied to Thee
and to myself.
I said I was too tired to go to church tonight.
That was not true.

I would've gone to a ball game or to any other place that I might have wanted to go.
Being too tired seemed to cover up my indifference.
God, have mercy on me; I have lied to Thee and to myself.
I am not too tired -- I am indifferent.
O God, warm my cold heart for that is the real reason why I stayed home. Amen."

I believe that the real reason Thomas missed that meeting was that
he didn't expect Jesus to be there.
He didn't believe that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead.
He told the others, in effect, "You can mourn together if you like,
but He won't be present."

We deprive ourselves of numerous benefits and blessings when we don't worship
at the Lord's house.
Just look at some of the blessings that Thomas missed.

He missed the presence of Jesus Christ.
When rumors of the empty tomb began to circulate, the disciples met together
in the Upper Room.
Behind shut doors they discussed the bewildering events of the day.
Suddenly, without opening a door, Jesus came and stood in their midst.
But Thomas missed that.

When Franklin D Roosevelt was President of the United States, the phone rang
in the office of a Washington church.
A voice asked, "Will the President be in church Sunday morning?"
The minister answered, "I cannot promise that he will, but I do know
that the Lord will be present, and that should be sufficient incentive f
or a reasonably large attendance."

The Lord Jesus has promised to be present where two or three are gathered in His name.
(Matthew 18:20)

Thomas missed the teaching of the Word of God.
That night, the Lord Jesus opened the understanding of those present by showing
how the Law of Moses; the Prophets, and the poetical books all predicted His sufferings
and resurrection.
Like the Emmaus disciples, the hearts of the disciples of Jesus must have burned within them
as their minds were illuminated by the teachings of Jesus.
But Thomas missed that magnificent course in Old Testament prophecy.
But Thomas was missed that.

Thomas missed the fellowship of believers.
Like the other 10, Thomas still had so much to learn.
But he missed out on that mutual edification that comes through the fellowship of believers.
God has established His church that we might grow and learn.
From the mutuality of common worship and service, God's people derive strength and growth.
But Thomas missed that.

Thomas missed the joy and peace.
The disciples came into this meeting being very gloomy.
Reports were floating around that their Master was alive.
But they met together, except for Peter to whom Jesus had earlier appeared, to lament a dead Christ.
Then, behold, He stood in their midst.

The disciples were filled with joy and happiness when they saw the living Lord.
Then Jesus pronounced a benediction on the disciples, when He said,
"Peace be unto you."
(John 20:19)
But Thomas missed that peace and joy.

How do Christian people who are down in the dumps will go to church,
and receive instruction and inspiration that lifts them up and puts them on the mountaintop
and renews a right relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thomas missed the commission of Christ.
At this meeting, the Lord Jesus told them that "repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
He commissioned them as witnesses, "As My Father have sent Me, even so send I you."
(Luke 24:47-48; John 20:21)

Jesus gave them a job to do and a mission to do for God, but Thomas didn't receive
his assignment at that time because he wasn't present.
Thomas missed that.

Thomas missed seeing the wounds of Jesus.
To dispel the disciples fright at what they supposed was a ghost, Jesus showed them His hands,
His feet and His side.
Then, He invited them to touch Him to be sure.

The nail prints made such an impression on them that in reporting the appearance of Christ
to Thomas, they mentioned His wounds.
Because of this emphasis Thomas gave his famous reply of skepticism,
"Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger
into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe."
(John 20:25)

Honest doubt can be transformed into deep conviction.
This happened to Thomas.
Though he was doubtful, Thomas was willing to be convinced.
The other disciples unanimous in repeating affirmations of seeing Christ back from the dead
convinced Thomas to attend their meeting the next Sunday in the Upper Room.
And Thomas was not disappointed.
Jesus came!

Jesus came, "the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said,
"Peace be unto you."
His eyes looked around the room and focused on Thomas.
Jesus said: "Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand,
and thrust it into My side; and be not faithless, but believing." (Versus 26-27)

Thomas had been looking for evidence, and here it was.
It was indisputable, tangible, and overwhelming.
How often Thomas had seen those hands as they touched fevered brows,
gave instant sight to blind eyes and had blessed little children.
It was His Master.
There was no need to put his finger into the nail prints.

Almost even before Jesus finished speaking, Thomas exclaimed,
"My Lord and My God." (Verse 28)

A honest doubter can become a strong believer.
Because of the experience of Thomas, we learn of another available blessing from our Lord.
Jesus said, "Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou thou hast believed;
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (Verse 29)
For Thomas, seeing was believing, and for us, believing is seeing.

Thomas would never forget the scars of Jesus Christ.
He could no longer say what he wished, look at what he wanted to see,
do what he desired, or walk were he wished to walk.
He was owned by Christ -- his tongue, his eyes, his hands, his feet, his intellect
-- all of him belong to Jesus.
These wounds were constant reminders that the Master owned him.

Many years ago I read the story of a small, orphaned boy who lived with his grandmother.
One night, their house caught on fire.
The grandmother died in the flames trying to rescue the little boy who was asleep upstairs.

A crowd had gathered around the burning house.
The boy's cries for help were heard above the roar of the crackling flames.
But no one seemed to know what to do.
Everyone stood helpless as the whole front of the house was a flaming inferno.

Suddenly, the stranger rushed from the crowd and went to the back of the house
where he found an iron pipe that reached an upstairs window.
He climbed the pipe, and disappeared into the flames, and then reappeared
with the boy in his arms.
As he heard the cheers of the crowd, he climbed down the red hot pipe
as the boy hung around his neck.

Many weeks later, a public meeting was held in the town hall to determine
in whose custody this boy would be placed.
Each person warming the boy was permitted to speak briefly.

The first man said, "I have a large farm, and growing up on the farm will be great for him."
The second man told of the advantages that he could provide.
He said, "I am a teacher, and I could give him a good education that will help him
throughout his life."
Many others spoke.
Then the richest man in the community said, "I am wealthy.
I can give the boy everything mentioned tonight -- farm, education, money, travel
-- I would like him to live with me in my home."

The chairman asked, "Is there anyone else who would like to speak?"

From back in the room, a stranger rose and walked toward the front,
deep suffering showed on his face.
Reaching the front of the room, he stood directly in front of the little boy.
Slowly, the stranger removed his hands from his pockets, and the crowd gasped.

The little boy, whose eyes had been focused on the floor until now, looked up.
The man's hands were terribly scarred.
Suddenly, the boy recognized him.
This was the man who had saved his life.

The little boy leaped into the man's arms and through himself around the stranger's neck
and continued to hug him.

The farmer rose and left.
The teacher also left.
Then, the rich man and the others left, leaving the boy with his rescuer who had won
the opportunity to raise this little boy.

Today, there are so many things that vie for our devotion and attention.
We are challenged by the call of money, education, business success, fame, pleasure,
and many other voices that we could mention.

But let us never forget that all down the years there is Jesus, who raises His hands,
and reminds us of His claim upon us.
Those nail-pierced hands say:

"Have you failed in your plan of your storm-tossed life?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.
Are you weary and worn from its toil and strife?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.

Are you walking alone through the shadows dim?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.
Christ will comfort your heart; put your trust in Him,
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.

Would you follow the will of the risen Lord?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.
Would you live in the light of His blessed word?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.

Is your soul burdened down with its load of sin?
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.
Throw your heart open wide; let the Savior in,
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand."
Refrain:
"Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand,
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand.
He will keep to the end, He's your dearest Friend;
Place your hand in the nail-scarred hand."
-- By B. B. McKinney

Sermon adapted from several sources by Dr. Harold L. White