A Friend Who Learned to Believe

John 11:7, 8, 16; 20:24-29

GOLDEN TEXT: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”—John 20:29

TODAY’S lesson is principally concerned with the disciple who is unfavorably referred to as “doubting Thomas.” Jesus did not especially condemn Thomas for not believing until he was given the physical demonstration which he demanded, for it was good that this very practical-minded man was able to accept the physical evidence when it was presented to him, and thereby believe. But Jesus did point out how much better off are they who are able to exercise faith upon the evidence of things not seen. The ability to exercise this higher quality of faith is rare indeed in the world today.

Thomas was a loyal and devoted disciple of the Master as long as he could see and be with him. When Jesus indicated his intention of re-entering Judea, where his enemies were plotting against him, Thomas volunteered, not only to go with him, but also expressed his willingness to die with Jesus if need be. This was a commendable display of courage and devotion, but it did not require the exercise of faith in things not seen. Thomas evidently was firm in his belief that Jesus was the Messiah, but when his enemies crucified him his confidence may have been shaken a little so that he was not willing to believe that this crucified One had been raised from the dead unless material evidence could be produced; and the evidence he asked for was to see and touch the body which had been nailed to the cross.

This brings to light an interesting and fundamentally important viewpoint in connection with the resurrection of Jesus. At first it might appear that Thomas doubted the integrity of his friends, the other disciples; but this is not the case. He probably questioned them very carefully concerning the evidence which had convinced them that Jesus had been raised from the dead and had found that not one of them had seen Jesus in a bodily form which they recognized. To the practical mind of Thomas this must have seemed strange. Jesus had been away from them only a few days. They had spent some three and a half years with him, and must have known his every facial expression. Yet none of them could testify that they had seen a man who looked like Jesus. From the natural standpoint Thomas was fairly well justified in wondering whether or not their fancy had run away with them.

Mary saw Jesus as a “gardener.” She conversed with him and did not know that she was talking with her Lord. Only by the familiar way he spoke her name, “Mary,” did she come to understand that she was conversing with Jesus and that he had been raised from the dead. If Thomas had questioned the various ones who claimed to have seen their resurrected Lord he could well reach the conclusion that inasmuch as their stories varied as to his appearance, etc., he would have to have more substantial proof—the very best proof, as he viewed the matter—which could be produced.

Jesus accommodated “doubting Thomas” by appearing to him in a body bearing wounds in the hands, feet, and side. As the matter turned out, the confirmation which Thomas asked for was merely secondary to the convincing proof contained in the manner in which the requested physical evidence came to his attention. When Jesus appeared in the room with the disciples while the doors were shut and asked Thomas not only to view the evidence he asked for, but also to touch it, the practical-minded Thomas would at once be convinced that Jesus must have been present and heard him state the conditions upon which he would believe. He would realize at the same time that one who could come into the room with the doors closed and locked, and then vanish as mysteriously as he had come, must possess miraculous powers.

As we put these thoughts together in the light of the general testimony of the Word of God, we discern that Jesus was not resurrected in the flesh at all, but was “made alive in the Spirit.” (I Pet. 3:17, Diaglott interlineary word for word) We see that there is no more reason for supposing that Jesus now possesses the old mortal body, scarred with nail prints, than there is for believing that our Lord and King is a “gardener,” or a “stranger.” He appeared in all these ways to his disciples, but none of them saw his new spiritual body, for human eyes cannot discern spirit beings.

To be sure, Jesus said to the disciples, “A spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have,” for they were not viewing him as a spirit being. (Luke 24:39) In order to communicate with them directly it was necessary for Jesus to materialize as a human being; and he did this in assumed bodies which on each occasion suited best the purpose to be accomplished. Angels during Old Testament times had done the same. Three of them appeared to Abraham and ate a meal with him, but this does not prove that angels actually possess bodies of flesh. Jesus was raised from the dead as a divine being. He appeared in various bodies of flesh in order to prove to his followers that he was no longer dead.

QUESTIONS:

Is Thomas to be especially blamed for demanding positive proof that Jesus had been raised from the dead?

Did Jesus return to heaven with a body bearing the wounds inflicted upon him when he was crucified?

What did Jesus mean when he said, “A spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have”?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |