ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (MARCH 17, 2012)

Courageous Thomas

John 20:24-31

"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.'" (JOHN 20:27)We're given sparse details in Scripture about Thomas before Christ's death. A zealous, passionate man, Thomas was one of Christ's twelve chosen followers, a part of the Lord's inner circle. He probably was a fisherman since he joined Peter and the others (John 21) for a night of fishing. He traveled with Christ and His disciples for three years. Thomas was a loyal follower of Jesus, willing to step out and lead even if it meant danger as John 11:16 reveals: "Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'" It was an extraordinary statement, hardly the stuff of a skeptic, or one known more for doubting his friends than for the courage he displayed throughout his life! Something about Jesus moved Thomas to love so much that he was willing to join Him in His death, should it come to that. Even so, Thomas would only believe if he saw with his own eyes and touched the Lord's side himself. Be encouraged when faith fades; the Lord graciously obliged!INSIGHTTHROUGH THE FITS AND STARTS OF OUR LOYALTY TO JESUS CHRIST, HE BECKONS US TO COME AND KNOW HIM AGAIN.READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEARJoshua 19-20 Psalm 106 Romans 5-6
John 20:24-31
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (called 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 it.”
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 did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may[a] believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Footnotes:
a. John 20:31 Some manuscripts may continue to

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