King Jesus: John 20

King Jesus: Sometimes I Doubt

March 24th, 2024/Casey Middle School

Story: Have you ever thought “I’ll believe it when I see it!” Or maybe you’ve said that out loud before. Maybe you’re the type of person that needs proof in order to truly believe something.

I was 100% this kid growing up! And to be honest, I’m probably still the same guy. I love proof. I want the facts, I want the experience, I want to feel it… I want it all!

Even when I was a child and my parents would ask me to do something, I would say “show me in the bible and I’ll do it!” I was relentless. What kid says that?

As I matured and grew in my faith, I was certain that a lot of my doubts would disappear and I would just be full of faith… all of the time. But this would be a fairy tale dream. It’s not real life. Doubts have come many times, and for many different reasons.

Even recently, there’s an archaeologist that came out with a “theory” that there was a global flood around 10,000 years ago. He’s gaining a lot of attention and people are amazed at his finding. While watching him lecture I had the thought “I’m so glad this aligns with what I believe…” Why does that even matter to me… who cares what this guy thinks. I already believe this stuff… I know about the flood… I already believe… right?!

But we are addicted to evidence, facts, seeing it for ourselves. (Bible Expedition on YouTube)

Intro: Are there any Bible characters you can relate to more than others?

Everyone wants to relate to Peter as he jumps out of the boat and in Faith walks on water.

Or John, The One Jesus Loved. They believe they are just that good. :)

Or maybe you’re Balaam’s donkey…

Here we’re going to look at Thomas. Also known as “Doubting Thomas”.

Passage: John 20:24-29

24 But Thomas (called “Twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even 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 and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.” 28 Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Pray:

Background:

We see Courageous Thomas in John 11:16 when he tells the other disciples, let’s go too and die with Him!

We see Curious Thomas in John 14:5 when Jesus is telling them about heaven and Thomas says “How can we know the way?”

But here we see Cautious Thomas “I’ve got to see it, to believe it!”

Doubt is often intellectual, and it arises from questions left unanswered or caused by painful experiences. Unbelief is a moral problem, it says “I will not believe.”

Thomas missed this moment because he was not with the disciples. He had to wait 8 days until he saw Jesus face to face. The disciples kept telling him “He’s alive!” But he refused to believe it. Jesus speaks to his unbelief and says “Don’t be faithless, but believe.”

The Lord was gracious and He came back on the Lord's Day to meet with the disciples and Thomas. We don’t see any indication that Thomas accepted the Lord's invitation to put his fingers in His hands or His side. When he saw Jesus, he needed no proof.

After this moment we see him become Convictional Thomas and later, Commissioned Thomas. He would go on to preach the gospel relentlessly to the Parthians, Medes and Persians, and reached as far as India. He was stabbed to death and martyred for his faith.

Title: Sometimes I Doubt

Big Idea:

If Jesus died on the cross, and did not come back to life, then we have nothing and today does not matter. If Jesus did die on the cross, and was resurrected, then everything changes.

Main Points: False Theories, Substantial Evidence, and Dealing With Doubt

1. False Theories On The Resurrection

   1. Swoon Theory:
      1. Definition: Suggests that Jesus did not actually die on the cross but merely fainted and was later revived in the tomb.
      2. Scriptural Refutation: Jesus' death is described in detail, emphasizing the Roman soldiers' expertise in execution (John 19:33-34). His burial involved wrapping in linen cloths and spices (John 19:40), which would have been impossible for someone merely unconscious.
      3. Logical Defense: The theory fails to account for Jesus' appearances to the disciples in a physically restored state and his subsequent ascension.
   2. Hallucination Theory:
      1. Definition: Proposes that the appearances of the resurrected Jesus were hallucinations experienced by his followers due to emotional turmoil and grief.
      2. Scriptural Refutation: The post-resurrection appearances were witnessed by multiple individuals and groups at different times and locations (1 Corinthians 15:3-8), making mass hallucination highly improbable.
      3. Logical Defense: Hallucinations are typically subjective and personal, whereas the appearances of Jesus were consistent and convincing enough to transform the disciples' lives.
   3. Wrong Tomb Theory:
      1. Definition: Suggests that the women and disciples who reported seeing the empty tomb actually went to the wrong tomb.
      2. Scriptural Refutation: The Gospels indicate that both the women (Mark 16:1) and the disciples (John 20:3-8) knew the location of Jesus' tomb, making it unlikely they went to the wrong tomb.
      3. Logical Defense: The Jewish authorities and Roman soldiers knew the correct tomb location and would have corrected any claims of resurrection by producing the body from the correct tomb.
   4. Stolen Body Theory:
      1. Definition: Suggests that Jesus' body was stolen from the tomb by his disciples or others, accounting for the empty tomb without requiring a resurrection.
      2. Scriptural Refutation: The Gospel of Matthew states that the Jewish authorities bribed the soldiers to spread this false story (Matthew 28:11-15). The transformation of the disciples from fearful to boldly proclaiming the resurrection is hard to explain if they knew it was a lie.
      3. Logical Defense: Stealing the body would not explain the subsequent appearances of Jesus in a physically resurrected form.
   5. Spiritual Resurrection Theory:
      1. Definition: Believes that Jesus' resurrection was not physical but spiritual, with the resurrection narratives being symbolic of spiritual renewal.
      2. Scriptural Refutation: The New Testament emphasizes the physical nature of Jesus' resurrection, with Jesus inviting Thomas to touch his wounds (John 20:27) and eating with his disciples (Luke 24:42-43).
      3. Logical Defense: The early Christian creed recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 stresses the physical death and resurrection of Jesus, indicating that this was the original belief of the Christian community.
   6. Myth Theory:
      1. Definition: Holds that the resurrection stories are myths or legends that developed over time.
      2. Scriptural Refutation: The resurrection accounts are found in the earliest Christian documents, including the letters of Paul (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). The Gospels were written within the lifetime of eyewitnesses.
      3. Logical Defense: The willingness of the disciples and early Christians to suffer and die for their belief in the resurrection is a strong argument against the myth theory.
   7. Conspiracy Theory:
      1. Definition: Suggests that the disciples conspired to fabricate the resurrection story to maintain their movement or gain power.
      2. Scriptural Refutation: The dramatic transformation of the disciples from hiding in fear (John 20:19) to boldly proclaiming the resurrection (Acts 4:1-2) is difficult to explain if they were knowingly perpetuating a lie.
      3. Logical Defense: The conspiracy theory fails to account for the empty tomb, the changed lives of the disciples, and the rapid growth of the early Christian church.

2. Evidence For The Resurrection

   1. The resurrection is the main event. It is everything. Christianity is about the resurrection of Jesus and what that means for the world, for all humanity, throughout all time, and for all eternal purposes.

      1. The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest historical event ever recorded. It was a created and beautiful event. Nobody has raised themselves from the dead, BUT Jesus!
      2. It is at the center of the records of all Scripture. The Old Testament points ahead to it, and the New Testament testifies back to it. Even this week, believers all around the world gather together to celebrate Holy Week. The death, burial, and RESURRECTION of our Lord.
      3. All four gospels testify to the resurrection and give the full and detailed account of what happened and the days that followed. No one saw the resurrection, but it’s not an event you need to see, you only need to see the one raised from the dead. Illust: I don’t need to go back in time and see the creation of the universe, cause I can see it right now all around me. There is substantial evidence that it happened.
         2. Evidence of the resurrection:
      4. Absent Guards
      5. Stone Removed
      6. Grave Clothes In Place
      7. Empty Tomb
      8. Angelic Testimony
      9. Scriptural Accounts (prophecy fulfilled)
      10. Historical Documents
      11. Eye Witnesses (over the course of 40 days, over 500 people, including His family and closest friends)
          3. The church meets to commemorate the resurrection. They started meeting then, and we’ve been meeting on Sundays ever since. We gather to celebrate, commemorate, and confess. Drawing us closer to God and giving us an opportunity to love one another.
          4. Tomb is empty…
      12. Mary Magdalene testifies to an empty tomb (John 20:1-2)
      13. The guards testify to an empty tomb (Matthew 28:11-15)
      14. The Sanhedrin testify to an empty tomb (Matthew 28:11-15)
      15. Peter and John testify to an empty tomb (John 20:3-8)
      16. The grave clothes testify to an empty tomb (John 20:7)

      17. No one ever denied the empty tomb! (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20)

          5. Personal Experience

      18. I’ve been transformed by Jesus

      19. I’ve witnessed every kind of miracle
      20. I’ve got a personal relationship with God
      21. To me… this is the most profound evidence I can relate to. These are the most personal to me.

      22. But even with all of this, the reality is that sometimes I still doubt.

          6. Resources for further study:

      23. Case For Christ - Lee Strobel

      24. Mere Christianity - CS Lewis
      25. Reason For God - Timothy Keller

3. What to do with doubt

   1. Why do we doubt?

      1. Questions you can’t answer

      2. Situations that seem unfair

         2. Dr. Gary R. Habermas, a prominent Christian apologist and philosopher, has discussed various types of doubt that Christians may experience in their faith journey. Here are definitions for three types of doubt based on his work:

      3. Factual Doubt:

         1. Definition: Factual doubt arises from questions or concerns about the truthfulness or reliability of Christian claims. It often involves skepticism about the historical accuracy of the Bible, the existence of God, or the factual basis of Christian doctrines.
         2. Context: In the Christian faith, addressing factual doubt typically involves studying apologetics, biblical scholarship, and historical evidence to reinforce the intellectual foundation of one's beliefs.
      4. Emotional Doubt:
         1. Definition: Emotional doubt is not primarily about intellectual questions but is rooted in feelings, moods, or personal experiences. It can be triggered by personal suffering, disappointment, or a sense of God's absence.
         2. Context: For Christians, dealing with emotional doubt often involves prayer, pastoral counseling, and community support to navigate the emotional aspects of faith and find comfort in God's presence.
      5. Volitional Doubt:
         1. Definition: Volitional doubt involves the will or decision-making aspect of faith. It is characterized by a reluctance or refusal to commit fully to Christian beliefs or practices, often due to a desire for autonomy or a fear of the implications of commitment.
         2. Context: In a Christian context, addressing volitional doubt may require a deeper exploration of one's relationship with God, an examination of personal priorities, and a willingness to surrender to God's will.

      6. It’s interesting that we see Thomas experience some of each of these types of doubt.

         1. Needed to see it to believe it
         2. He was in intense grief
         3. Feared the implications if it was false
         4. Doubt: A feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction
         5. “Doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong. It may be a sign that he is thinking.” - Oswald Chambers
         6. Develop vs. Diminish:

      7. Doubt that develops our faith, asks good questions in community

      8. Doubt that diminishes our faith, responds to how we feel in isolation
      9. Doubt that develops our faith, goes on the journey with God
      10. Doubt that diminishes our faith, relies on our own understanding
      11. Doubt that develops our faith, trusts in what you can’t see
      12. Doubt that diminishes our faith, trusts only what you can see
          6. Faith is a journey, not a destination. A journey in community… with God… asking good questions.
          7. 29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Closing:

Matthew 28:16-17 - “The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 - “For we walk by faith, not by SIGHT.”

Hebrews 11:1 - “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not SEEN.”

Romans 10:17 - “Faith comes HEARING, and hearing through the Word of Christ”

Mark 9:24 - “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

“Faith is not the absence of doubt, faith is the means to push through it.” - Craig Groeschel

Invitation:

If you want to make a decision to follow Jesus. Then join me and everyone else in the building as we pray out loud together. It’s not the prayer that saves you, but your faith, making Jesus Lord of your life. We don’t let anyone go on the journey alone. If you have faith in Jesus, then let’s join together as we pray…

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free

Conclusion:

If you prayed that prayer for the first time then Scripture says “anyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge them before my Father”. I’m going to ask that if you prayed that prayer for the first time would you lift your hand and let me know so that I can celebrate with you.

1. God is so proud of you.

2. The angels are rejoicing.

3. And we believe God has a purpose for your life.

Would you let us know that you made a decision so that we can follow up with you and help you on your next steps?