The Apostle Thomas “The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

Some Facts About Thomas 1) He is mentioned 12 times in the Bible. 2) He was called the twin or Didymus (Jn. 11:16; 20:24; and 21:2). 3) He was a Galilean (Acts 2:7). 4) He was an apostle (Matt. 10:2-4). 5) Possibly a fishermen (Jn. 21:2,3); other have suggested he became a carpenter. 6) Several point out that his mission field was to the east and he carried the gospel to India and it was there he died. 7) It has been said he died a martyr’s death by being thrust through with a spear.

The Apostle Thomas Courageous

Courageous “Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him” (John 11:26).

Courageous 1) The occasion when spoken. “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” (John 11:5-8).

Courageous 2) The plan of the Jews. “I and My Father are one.” Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God” (John 10:30-33).

Courageous 3) There is a need for courage. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). Perseverance – “but the heroic, brave patience with which a Christian not only bears but contends” (Vincent).

The Apostle Thomas Courageous Seeking To Know

Seeking To Know “Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5).

Seeking To Know 1) Notice the text. “Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know” (John 14:1-4).

Seeking To Know 2) Lord speaks of the route. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Seeking To Know 3) We should desire to know as well. “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 1:10-12).

The Apostle Thomas Courageous Seeking To Know Needed Evidence

Needed Evidence “Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:24,25).

Needed Evidence 1) Not wrong to demand evidence. “Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me” (John 10:24,25).

Needed Evidence 2) All must have their own faith. “The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

Needed Evidence 2) All must have their own faith. “The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).

Needed Evidence 3) Comments about this. “We who have not seen, because of Thomas can now believe with great confidence.” “His doubt had a purpose. Thomas wanted to know the truth, his doubt gives evidence, not a lack of faith, but of a desire to have faith founded in fact not fancy.”

The Apostle Thomas Courageous Seeking To Know Needed Evidence Committed

Now Committed “And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:26-29).

Now Committed 1) Notice this observation by John. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1-3).

Now Committed 2) Last Biblical reference of Thomas. “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:12-14).

Now Committed 3) Last two verses of John 20. “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30,31).

The Apostle Thomas Courageous Seeking To Know Needed Evidence Committed

We Saw Thee Not “We gazed not in the open tomb, Where once Thy mangled body lay; Now saw Thee in that “upper room,” Nor met Thee on the open way; But we believe that angels said “Why seek the living with the dead?” But we believe that angels said, “Why seek the living with the dead?” (verse 3). We also believe because of what Thomas did and said, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).