¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19-20 NIV)

• All the disciples were there except for Thomas.
• The reason why Thomas was not there was that struggled with the resurrection of Jesus. The empty tomb.

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus) -, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ 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.”

• Thomas was wired differently. He needed to experience in order to believe. He needed to see in order to believe.

#1 THOMAS WAS LOYAL:

• In John 11, when Jesus wanted to go to Judea to raise Lazarus from the dead, all the other disciples discouraged Him because He was a wanted man
• But Thomas spoke up and addressed the disciples in verse 16: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
• Thomas was loyal to Jesus. He did not care about his own life.

²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:25 NKJ)

• Loyalty leads to intimacy and fellowship with God. Loyalty to God leads to boldness!
• God wants you to be loyal or faithful to Him, to His word. To His truth.

#2 THOMAS WAS HONEST:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ 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. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4 NIV)

• I bet you this was disciples’ reaction: “Amen to that!”; “Preach it Jesus!” They had no clue what Jesus. They did not understand and single word.
• But Thomas did not understand Jesus. Listen to his honest reaction.

⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5 NIV)

• Out of Thomas’ honesty we get one of the most profound truth about Jesus.

⁶ Jesus answered, “I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. (John 14:6-7 NIV)

• Honesty with God leads to truth. Honesty leads to freedom!
• God wants you to be honest with yourself and with Him.

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.”

• Now from Thomas’ predisposition: People don’t come back from the dead.
• Thomas was searching for answers. As long as you search for answers, God will answer them.

²⁶ 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!” ²⁷ 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.”

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ 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)

• Jesus was not offended but graciously submits to Thomas’ request.
• Here’s what Jesus is saying stop being a doubter but a believer.
• When you look for God, He will find you!

CONCLUSION:

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?