O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

DOUBTING THOMAS

The apostle Thomas most likely got the nickname “Doubting Thomas” from the story recorded in John 20:19-23. We do not know who was the first to give him the nickname, but it was indeed a very apt name for the way he wanted to be sure of the LORD Jesus’ bodily resurrection. 

For this article, we will explore the apostle John’s purpose for recounting this story and what we can learn about doubting the testimonies of others. 

The Story 

The LORD Jesus’ resurrection was an event that many could testify about. Paul wrote that over 500 people saw Him after He was risen from the dead (1 Cor 15:6). 

According to our text, the people who saw the resurrected Jesus were His closest disciples and they were in a home setting. For that sighting which happened on the day of the resurrection, one disciple was absent. Thomas was not at that gathering. In his reply to the testimony of those who had seen the risen LORD, Thomas made it very clear that he would stick with what he knew: that Jesus was crucified, died and buried. The resurrection of Jesus was not part of his understanding about his master. 

Thomas’ reaction to the disciples’ testimony of Jesus was doubt and he demanded undeniable proof. “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, 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) Thomas made it very clear that seeing Jesus alive was not enough to convince him. He wanted to see the wounds of the injuries inflicted on Jesus or else he would not believe. 

Was it OK for Thomas to doubt? 

Thomas knew for a fact that Jesus was crucified, died, taken down from the cross and buried. He had concrete proof for this conclusion. He needed the same degree of certainty regarding Jesus' resurrection before he could believe the other disciples' testimonies. He wanted to see before he would believe, hence the very strong response to see and touch the wounds of Jesus’ hands and side. 

Thomas wanted to be sure, and Jesus showed him that it is OK to be sure of what he believes. So, the LORD Jesus appeared again to the disciples with Thomas present. 

Eight days after Thomas missed out on seeing Jesus, the story continued with Jesus appearing in their midst without going through the locked doors.  The LORD Jesus knew the doubts of Thomas and miraculously appeared before him. The LORD Jesus came to give Thomas the opportunity to touch His hands and side. He gave doubting Thomas the certainty he wanted. 

Once Thomas saw the LORD Jesus, he did not have to touch the wounds. Just the sight of Jesus caused him to submit and worship Jesus. According to John 20:28, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” 

Thomas’ doubt was about the resurrection. Can a dead man be raised up? The eyewitnesses’ account of Jesus returning from the dead was not enough. He had to see the risen Jesus for himself before he would believe the testimonies of the other disciples. 

The LORD Jesus obliged Thomas’ request and told him and everyone in the room, the real lesson for His appearing to Thomas. Everyone in that room could hear Him saying that blessing comes from believing: “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) 

The way to overcome doubt can be by seeing, but the blessing for overcoming doubt comes from believing. This blessing of believing belongs to all of us today. We, who are born-again Christians over 2000 years removed from the LORD’s resurrection, can and do believe that He is risen and alive! We can believe the testimonies of the Christians who lived before us. They have passed down the truth of this event by GOD divinely inspiring them to write the Bible – the very Bible that we have in our hands and pockets. 

I think C.S. Lewis caught the essence of this blessing of faith when he wrote, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not because I see it (the sun), but because by it (the sun) I see everything else.” True blessing in this life is about having the faith to believe in Jesus, and with that faith we are able to see everything else clearly from GOD’s perspective. 

Handling Questions and Doubts 

The questions and doubts one has about our GOD must be answered. This is especially true for our youths. The LORD Jesus accommodated Thomas’ doubt and appeared before him. We should likewise take the extra effort to know the questions and doubts of our loved ones and friends in church, and with Biblical insight show them what GOD is saying to them. 

Parents, siblings, friends, Sunday School teachers, Bible study leaders, Elders, Deacons and pastors, we are Christ’s church. And we are here to provide them the biblical answers to their questions. In 1 Timothy 3:15 Paul had written, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 

The church exists not just to teach but to cause its members to understand the whole counsel of GOD, as seen in Nehemiah 8:8, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” We have the Bible, and we have the Holy Spirit. With that, we have the means to tell all that will listen, who Jesus is and how He has shown us the Father in heaven. 

Conclusion 

The LORD Jesus accommodated Thomas’ doubts and questions about the resurrection. We should likewise help those with questions and doubts about GOD and the Christian faith. We must also remember to pray that GOD will give them the faith to believe the testimonies and truths that GOD has given in the Bible. 

As Christ’s church, let us strive to know GOD intimately as we know the Bible deeply. By doing so, we can be used of GOD to help others find comfort and hope in Jesus Christ. 

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15) Our faith in Jesus should not only be intellectual but also experiential and ever available to help anyone we meet.

– Joel Seah

Appointments for the Week

Tuesday, Nov 14

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (James Salai)

Thursday, Nov 16

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

Saturday, Nov 18

        2.00 pm     Marriage Enrichment Seminar (MPH)

        3.00 pm     LTF

Sunday, Nov 19

  8.00 am     The Reason of the Hope that is in You, Acts 21:37-22:24 (Rev Lim Yew Cheng, with Holy Communion)

  8.00 am     Choir Practice

  9.15 am     Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.40 am Sunday School

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am The Reason of the Hope that is in You, Acts 21:37-22:24 (Rev Lim Yew Cheng) 

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

11.00 am Filipina Service (Rm 1-6)

12.15 pm Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6)

Announcements

Infant Baptism on Christmas Eve Sunday, 24 December 2023, 9.00am

Parents, please email the church office, with your full names, contact numbers, and your child's name and date of birth by 3 December 2023.

Catechism Class for Easter Baptism on 31 March 2024

will commence on 17 December 2023 at 9.30am. Please pre-register by emailing to Church Office. Those seeking baptism, reaffirmation of faith and transfer of membership must attend the catechism class. Closing date: 10 December 2023.

Door to Door Evangelism 19 Nov 2023 (Next Sunday)

Meet in Beulah Room 2-11, 12.30pm Contact: Desmond or Amos

Traffic Wardens

Lifers are invited to serve our Lord as Traffic Wardens on Sunday. Kindly contact Dn Choong CY or Bro Kelvin if you are available.

ERBL Evening Lectures

Two evening lectures offered from January-May 2024:

1) Old Testament Prophetic Books by Rev Charles Seet (Monday @ 7.30pm)

2) Bible Geography by Ms Lilian Lee (Thursday @ 7.30pm)

It will be conducted on-site at No. 10 Gilstead Road. It is compulsory for all Credit Students to attend lectures on-site and Audit Students can either attend lectures via Zoom platform or on-site. Interested parties can register for the courses online at https://www.lifebpc.com/erbl/

MM Thanksgiving Fellowship Meeting 25 Nov 2023; 4-7 pm 

“My Three Pillars of Life” by Rev Daniel Khoo. All are welcome. Dinner is provided. RSVP if you are joining for dinner by contacting Bro Ignatius This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Closing date: 29 Oct 2023 (Sunday)

Church Community Survey  https://forms.gle/cKJim9fxEmwshHo66

Combined B-P Youth Conference 2023

8 Dec (Fri evening) & 9 Dec (Sat), Beulah MPH. Speaker: Rev Mark Chen Open to all teens & youth! Register at bpilgrims.com/cbpyc2023 by 26 Nov.

YF Camp 2023 

18-22 Dec @ Life B-P Church. Sign up at lifeyf.com before 26 Nov

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