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LESSON FOR MAY 19 Learning in the School of Faith L E S S O N M A T E R IA L ! John 11:7, 8, 16| 20:24-29. G O L D E N T E X T : "B le sse d are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20;29). Outline and Exposition L T homas the C ourageous (J ohn 11:7, 8, 16) When Jesus received an emergency call from Mary and Martha, He de cided to go to them. This visit would necessarily take Him again into Judea where there was a very real threat against His life. The disciples thought if He did so, He would surely be killed, and they sought to dissuade Him from this step. Thomas then made up his mind to accompany Him even if it meant his own death, and he uttered the cou rageous call to the other disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” He felt it was better to die with his Lord than to live without Him. Loyalty could rise no higher than this. The d i s p a r a g i n g term “Doubting Thomas,” often applied to this man, has wrongly influenced many against him. He certainly was not lacking in courage; if he was weak in faith, his bravery was all the more remarkable. IL T h o m a s t h e C a u t io u s (J o h n 20:24-29) When the Lord Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples, they were filled with fear. He quick ly quieted their apprehension by giv ing them proof of his corporeality. But Thomas was not present at that time, and when he was told of the Lord’s resurrection, he refused to believe it until he himself should have ocular proof. In spite of the fact that Jesus had again and again foretold His resurrection, Thomas was cautious enough to desire certain proof before believing that it had occurred. It was not that he did not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, but the literal, un precedented resurrection from among the dead was too fnuch for his natural mind to accept. After eight days, Jesus again ap peared to the disciples and this time Thomas was there. Jesus reminded Thomas of his statement to the effect that he w o u l d not believe without proof, and He then offered to allow Thomas to inspect His wounds. The sight of Jesus in the flesh, His words, and the evidence of His omniscience in knowing in advance what Thomas had thought and said were enough for him, Thomas immediately gave utterance to the mighty confession, “My Lord and my God.” By sight, he recognized that Jesus had actually
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risen from among the dead, but by faith, he recognized that this risen Jesus was not only the Master whom he had determined to follow, but also was essential Deity whom he would forever worship. This disciple is marked with outstanding loyalty, cou rage and, at last, the faith that sees in Jesus of Nazareth the eternal and the living God. Points and Problems 1. "Goest thou t h i t he r again?" (11:8). The vicinity of Jerusalem was the danger zone for Christ. In that place His life had been threaten ed. Now He proposes to return, and the disciples cannot understand the Wisdom of such a venture. It did ap pear imprudent, but the ways of Christ are never unwise. If at times His ways seem to us to be lacking in wisdom, we should recognize our own short-sightedness and demonstrate a willingness to follow His plan. 2. "Let us also go • . . with him" (11:16). With utter despair Thomas heard Jesus’ p r o p o s a l to go into Judaea. He felt that no good would come from it. Thomas was ever look ing at the dark side of things. He was very slow to see the rainbow in the cloud. But one thing can be said in favor of Thomas on this occasion: he wanted to go with Christ even though he believed it would mean his own death. He was loyal although he saw nothing but disaster ahead. There are times when the Lord’s children are not able to see through the darkness of trouble and testing. Faith may be small. But blessed are they if at such times they can say, “Let us also go . . . with him.” Such ventures of loyalty will have a happy ending. 3. "Reach hither thy finger, and beheld my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing" (20:27). How can anyone read such words and ever doubt again the con descending love and patience of the Lord? Although Thomas had shown an unbelieving spirit, had absented himself from the fellowship of the other disciples, and had demonstrated a determined stubbornness, yet at the very f i r s t opportunity, the L o r d stooped to deal with him. Our Lord’s action here is an encouragement to the rest of us who, in our doubtings and despondency, -too often reveal a likeness to Thomas.
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