I. INTRODUCTION

A. The New Testament does not record much specifically concerning the apostle Thomas.

1. We know that his name, Thomas, and his surname, Didymus, mean "twin.” Perhaps we may assume that Thomas had a twin sibling, but even that is not certain, nor is it important.

2. Most of what we know about Thomas is from general knowledge about all of the apostles.

a. He is named among the twelve apostles of Christ (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15), so whatever is said of them as a group in general is also true of Thomas.

b. Of course, we know that he and the other apostles were witnesses of Christ both during His ministry and following His resurrection. Thomas was also among the apostles when they witnessed Christ's ascension and when they received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 1:1-13; 2:1-4).

B. In the few words of Thomas that are recorded in the book of John, we get insight into him, the other apostles, and even ourselves. Let us consider his words that we may gain these valuable lessons.

II. THE WORDS OF THOMAS

A. In John 11:16, Thomas said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

1. Recall the setting in which Thomas made this statement.

a. On this occasion, Jesus and His apostles were in a wilderness area beyond the Jordan river where John had begun his baptism. They had gone there when the rulers of the Jews in Jerusalem had attempted to stone Jesus (John 10:31, 39-40).

b. In John 11:1-5, they received a message from Mary and Martha in Bethany concerning their brother Lazarus, who was sick. Jesus said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

c. After two days, Jesus said, "Let us go to Judea again,” but the apostles objected because of the Jews there who sought stone Him (John 11:6-8).

d. When Jesus explained that He must go to awaken Lazarus from his sleep, the apostles did not understand that He spoke of Lazarus' death. Therefore, Jesus said plainly, "Lazarus is dead” (John 11:9-15).

e. It was at this time that Thomas said, "Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

2. Consider what Thomas' words reveal about him and the other apostles.

a. They believed that if Jesus returned to Judea, He would be killed by His enemies. Ultimately, they were right about the intentions of those rulers, but the events of Christ's death did not occur according to their expectations.

b. They were prepared to die with Him.

i. This fact was also revealed when Peter and the apostles responded to Christ's prediction of Peter's denials in Matthew 26:35:

Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

ii. The apostles were fully committed to Jesus with their own lives. The Scriptures indicate that they were sincerely willing to die for Him.

iii. Why then did they mostly abandon Him when He was on trial before the Jews? Apparently, it was because Jesus defied their expectations of fighting to the death for Him when He said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword” (Matt. 26:52).

c. They still did not understand the mission of Christ or their role in the kingdom.

i. Jesus had not chosen these men to die in His defense at this time. Rather, He was to die for them, and they were to be His witnesses after the resurrection.

ii. They did not fully understand these things until after they received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. See Acts 1:4-8.

3. Notice two lessons for us.

a. It is possible to be seriously and sincerely committed to Jesus while also being mistaken about what Jesus requires. Therefore, let us be careful to understand His will.

b. It is also possible to be seriously and sincerely committed to Jesus only to fail when hardship comes. Therefore, let us be sure that Christ's word has a firm root in our hearts (see Matt. 13:20-21).

B. In John 14:5, Thomas asked the Lord Jesus, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”

1. Recall the setting in which Thomas asked this question.

a. On the night before Jesus died on the cross, He comforted His apostles with many words.

b. In John 14:1-3, He promised that He would prepare a place for them where He was going and that He would come again for them.

c. Jesus said to them, "And you know the way where I am going” (John 14:4), which prompted Thomas to ask this question.

2. Consider what this question reveals about Thomas and the apostles.

a. They were thinking in terms of a physical pathway to a physical location. They did not perceive that Jesus was going to leave earth and return to heaven.

b. They still did not understand the nature of the kingdom of God or the mission of Christ. Their perception was clouded because of their expectations for a worldly kingdom.

3. Notice a few lessons for us.

a. The comforting promises of Jesus to His apostles are for us as well. Such promises are for "all who have loved His appearing” (2Tim. 4:8).

b. Rather than a physical place, Christ went to His Father's house to prepare a place for us. This is an eternal, spiritual destination for our souls.

c. Rather than a physical pathway, Christ is the way unto the Father. He answered Thomas' question in John 14:6, saying, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

C. In John 20:28, Thomas confessed to Christ, "My Lord and my God!”

1. Recall the occasion of Thomas's confession.

a. When Jesus first appeared to His apostles after His resurrection, Thomas was not present (John 20:24-25). When Thomas later heard that they had seen Jesus, he declared:

"Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

b. Eight days later, Jesus appeared to them again with Thomas present. When Thomas saw Jesus, he made his great confession (John 20:26-28).

2. Consider what this declaration reveals about Thomas and the apostles.

a. Thomas' reputation as the lone doubter among the apostles is not accurate. The other apostles did not believe the first reports of Christ's resurrection either (Mark 16:11-14; Luke 24:11). None of them believed until they saw Him.

b. There was no doubt for Thomas and the apostles that Jesus had been dead. They knew that no ordinary man could survive the ordeal inflicted upon Jesus. Therefore, Thomas knew that Jesus had been raised from the dead, which meant that He is Lord and God.

3. Notice a few lessons for us.

a. In John 20:29, Jesus replied to Thomas' confession, saying, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” We are among those blessed ones who believe in Christ's resurrection without seeing.

b. We believe because of the credible testimony of witnesses like Thomas, which comes to us through the word of God. Our faith, which is "the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1), comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17).

c. Today, anyone who refuses to confess Christ as Lord and God without seeing with his own eyes is resisting the Holy Spirit and is not among the blessed of whom Jesus spoke.

III. CONCLUSION

A. Let us summarize these lessons from our study of Thomas' words.

1. Our conviction must be as strong as Thomas', but it must be according to truth. We may be willing to die for Jesus, but we must also be willing to live for Him (Rom. 12:1-2).

2. We will find the way to the Father only through Jesus. There is no other path to salvation.

3. Jesus is Lord and God, and we can know this by the eyewitness testimony of men like Thomas found in the Bible.

B. Have you made the great confession of Jesus in the likeness of Thomas? His confession was based on sight, but we cannot see Jesus or confess Him on this basis. Therefore, let us be among those whom the Lord declared to be blessed by believing in Him even without seeing.