A Word from the Vine No. 532: The Skepticism of Thomas

Welcome back to A Word from the Vine. I’m Pastor Loren Christensen, and today we continue our series exploring John 20:19-31. In this episode, we focus on Thomas, often called "Doubting Thomas," and his skepticism.

Let's dive into John 20:24-25:

"Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.'"

Thomas refused to believe the other disciples' testimony about Jesus' resurrection. He demanded physical proof. This skepticism is a reflection of the human condition—we often need tangible evidence before we believe.

Think about it: how often do we find ourselves in Thomas' shoes? We hear about the miracles and promises of Jesus, but we hesitate to believe without seeing. We want to touch, to feel, to have undeniable proof before we commit our lives to Him.

Today, many of us are like Thomas. We demand proof before we commit our lives to Jesus. We want to see and touch before we believe. But faith is about trusting in what we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Faith requires us to move beyond doubt and trust in Jesus' promises. It calls us to believe in His words and His works, even when we cannot see the evidence with our own eyes. Jesus understands our need for proof, but He calls us to a higher level of faith.

Consider the areas in your life where you may be demanding proof before believing. Are there moments when you hesitate to trust in Jesus because you cannot see the evidence? Reflect on these areas and ask God to help you trust in His promises without needing physical proof.

I urge you to move beyond doubt and embrace faith. Trust in Jesus' promises and His presence in your life. Let go of the need for tangible evidence and believe in the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

As we reflect on Thomas' skepticism, let us pray for the strength to trust in Jesus fully, without doubt or fear. Let us ask God to help us move beyond the need for proof and to embrace unwavering faith.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word and the lessons we have learned today. Give us the strength and courage to stand firm in our faith. Help us to trust in Jesus fully, without doubt or fear. Bless us as we commit our lives to Him. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Thank you for joining me today on A Word from the Vine. I look forward to continuing this journey with you as we explore the theme of unwavering faith in Jesus. Until next time, may God bless you and keep you.