Doubting Thomas

Text: John 20:19-29

Here we have the story of doubting Thomas. What an awful testimony to have as a Christian. He is known as the disciple who doubted. How would you like to be known as the Christian who doubted God? Hey, he was not the only one, though he wears the title. When the disciples were in the ship and the ship began to fill with water in Mark 4:38, how many of the disciples doubted? All of them!

Doubt is not limited to the Bible characters. All of us have doubted God at some time or another. In fact, someone has said that of all the creatures of God’s creation, man is the only one that doubts God.

It is recorded that Thomas doubted on three occasions. I think he is known as the doubting disciple because those three times he doubted are lessons to us on why we doubt God. The Scriptures are given to us for our admonition according to 1 Corinthians 10:11. I want to preach on doubting Thomas and consider the three times he doubted God. I think we will be able to see that many times we doubt God for the very same reasons that Thomas doubted.

Thomas Doubted the Presence of the Lord

The first example is found here in our text.

John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

The Lord appeared to the disciples but Thomas was not present. When they told Thomas that they had seen the Lord, he would not believe them. Thomas doubted the presence of the Lord. I want you to notice the kind of situation the disciples were in when Thomas doubted the presence of the Lord. They were in a state of fear.

John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Do you know when you and I will doubt the presence of the Lord in our life? We will doubt His presence when we are in a state of fear about something. You see, fear fights faith and faith fights fear. They are at odds with each other.

Matthew 14:25-32 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

It was Peter’s fear that fought his faith and caused him to sink. The same thing happens to us when we begin to fear our circumstances. This will cause us to doubt God.

Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Notice what David said. He said he did not fear evil because he knew the Lord was near. When we understand this fact that the Lord will never forsake us or leave us then we won’t fear the circumstances we face. When Moses was about to die, he encouraged the children of Israel with these words.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Fear caused Thomas to doubt the presence of the Lord. Fear does the same thing to us. The Lord told Abraham:

Genesis 15:1b Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Fear not Christian. Do not doubt the presence of the Lord in the midst of any of your circumstances. Before Thomas was ever told that the Lord had been seen, the Lord was already there. And before you can see him in the trials of life, He is already there. He saw the trials before you even knew they were coming.

Thomas doubted the presence of the Lord.

Thomas Doubted the Purpose of the Lord

John 11:1-16 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

The Lord was told of Lazarus death. When he heard of his death, he told the disciples that his death was for a reason.

John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that th Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Thomas thought the Lord was heading for his death. Notice in verse 7-8.

John 11:7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
John 11:8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

When the Lord proceeded to go where Lazarus was to raise Lazarus from the dead, Thomas thought that Jesus would surely be stoned if the Jews found him in Judaea. So notice what he said.

John 11:16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Thomas doubted the purpose of the Lord. He did not understand or realize what the Lord was doing. This caused him to doubt. The same is true of us. When we cannot see the purpose God has for the various things that happen in our life, the temptation is to doubt God. We should never doubt the purposes of the Lord.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

No matter what is happening in your life, you can rest assured that God has a purpose for it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-10 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

God’s purpose for the things that happen in life is for those things to exercise our faith and patience in God, not cause us to doubt Him. God has a purpose, and when we face trials we should not doubt the purpose, we should determine what that purpose is.

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Thomas doubted the purpose of the Lord, but He would not have doubted had He trusted the Lord. We need to learn to trust the Lord, even when we cannot understand His purposes.

Thomas Doubted the Path of the Lord

John 14:1-5 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. 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. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

The Lord told his disciples, that he had to go and prepare a place for them. Here Thomas doubted the path of the Lord. He said how can we know the way? Have you ever asked that? Lord, I just don’t know if I can see the direction you want me to go. That is one way we can doubt the path of the Lord. The other way is to say, Lord I don’t want to go the way you want me to go. The Lord is leading each of us down a specific path in life that should fulfill His will for us here on earth. We need not doubt that the path he sends us down is the right one for us.

How many times have we said, “Why is this happening to me?”. Well maybe God put that in your path to preparing you for something further down the road that you cant see yet. You might say, Preacher I don’t like the path God has placed me on, I think I’ll go my own way.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Never fear the path the Lord leads you down. His purpose will become evident in your life in due time.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

God allows us to go through great trials of our faith, so that we may help others who will go through the same thing in the future. Isn’t it a blessing when someone says, “Hey, I understand. I have been in your shoes. I know what you are going through.” If you have faced troubles and trials in your life, look for opportunities to help others who are going through the same thing. God allowed that thing to happen in your life, for this very purpose.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Thomas doubted the Presence of the Lord.
Thomas doubted the Purpose of the Lord.
Thomas doubted the Path of the Lord.

Spurgeon said, “It is an inconsistent thing for a believing man to doubt his God. If you believe, why doubt? If faith, why little faith? If you doubt, why believe? Oil and water will not mix. How should faith and unbelief unite?”

Maybe you have been doubting the Presence of the Lord.
Maybe you have been doubting the Purpose of the Lord.
Maybe you have been doubting the Path God has placed you on.

If so, learn from Doubting Thomas.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.