Absolute Proclamation
John 20:24-31
"Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!'" (JOHN 20:28)When Jesus was murdered, Thomas was crushed. He'd come to believe the Rabbi would deliver their people; how could He usher in a new kingdom now that He was dead? To add salt to the wound, Thomas's friends were reporting that they'd seen Jesus alive again. The pain of believing once and ending up betrayed had been hard enough. Maybe he convinced himself that he would not be made a fool twice. Disappointment had surely mixed with despair for Thomas, a combination that led to doubt. Many of you know how that feels. So when Christ invited Thomas to touch His scars, a touch that reminded Thomas and those watching of His death on the cross for their sakes, he responded not with doubt but with absolute recognition for who Jesus was: "My Lord and My God!" It was true! Jesus was undaunted by Thomas's 'demand' for proof. Consequently, Thomas's personal declaration - "My Lord and My God" - would move hundreds of thousands of believers long after he poked his finger in Christ's flesh. Has it moved you, too?INSIGHTCHRIST'S FINAL WORDS TO THOMAS, "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVE," ECHO LOUDLY TO US NOW MORE THAN EVER.READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEARJoshua 21-22 Psalm 107 Romans 7-8
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
DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE PUFFING YOURSELF [PART 2]with John PiperIt's true in business, in sports, and especially in the church - we want people to think we are better than we really are. The world calls it self-esteem, but the Bible calls it pride.
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