Point of Grace Worship 4.12.26 Sermon Notes – “The Risen Jesus Deals with Our Default to Disbelief”
Do we have a “Default to Disbelief” problem?
John 20:19-30
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.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), 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.”
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.”
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
How does the Risen Jesus deal with our “Default to Disbelief” then and now?
Notice the evangelistic heart of the Risen Jesus on full display!
- Jesus seeks out Thomas and creates a crux moment to deal with disbelief “Stop being disbelieving and become believing!”
- Jesus blesses those who would believe without seeing (including us). Jesus trusts that the testimony of the apostles empowered by the Holy Spirit is sufficient to create faith.
- The heart of Jesus for people to believe pours out of John.
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
The “you” is to be taken personally.
“One collects everything possible about a dead prophet. It all one has of him. But one tells only enough about a living person to introduce one’s hearers to him. For the disciples and John in particular Jesus was alive.” Leon Morris
Notice the confession of Thomas! This is a man of great faith!
- Jesus, You are “My Lord and My God”
Notice the “help” Jesus gives to move us from ‘disbelief to belief”!
- Listen to the Apostle’s testimony (Read the Gospels – He is present in His Word)
- Yield to His gracious kindness as He leads.
- Look at His wounds.
- Drop your conditions and believe!
“My Lord and My God”