Doubts Erased

 

I’m trying to think what it would have been like for the disciples when Jesus died and was put in a tomb. He promised them that would not be the end, but we are creatures that tend to want proof for everything. They were no different. Then . . .

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19–20)

One of them was not there. Thomas is called the doubter, yet the others didn’t believe either — until they saw Jesus . . .

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.” (John 20:24–25)

Thomas was no different than the others except that he was not with them behind locked doors, which may indicate that he was not as fearful of the Jews as they were. Whatever the reason, he wanted proof also and Jesus gave it to him.

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:26–28)

He didn’t need to put his hands on Jesus’ wounds. All he needed was one glimpse of the risen Christ and he believed and declared his faith.

After those appearances and after Jesus was taken up into heaven, there would be no physical sightings. Faith would happen, but not by seeing. Jesus predicted it:

Jesus said to (Thomas), “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) 

What makes faith possible when our eyes have no proof? Two things. One, we need to hear the good news:

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:14–17, italics mine)

The second is that the hearing is not mere noise but comes to us as a gift from the Lord. He says,

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9, italics mine)

Somehow, the Word of Christ is imparted as a gift wrapped in faith. We are told to receive it, yet it is God who gives it. Not everyone who hears the gospel receives it in faith, yet the NT is clear — faith is a gift, an inheritance, received by the final will and testament of our God who died that we might gain all that He has and is. We call it grace, and rejoice in it, know it is true and that Jesus is alive, yet we shake our heads at the wonder of it! Our grief for sin and our hopelessness is replaced with unceasing joy and indescribable peace with God.

PRAY: Lord, so often You affirm my faith by letting me see footsteps where You have walked and worked, yet that is not the same as seeing You. However, the promise I have is that the pure in heart will see God. For that, I ask You to never stop working to purify my heart and cleanse me from all that is not like You. Keep my eyes focused on the written record of Your glory, and the fact that You are with me and hear my prayers, and keep me in fellowship with Your people in whom I also see evidence of Your handiwork. I am thankful for the presence of Your Spirit, the power of Your Word, and the fellowship of Your people.

READ Luke 24:13–35. Why didn’t the two disciples recognize Jesus? How did Jesus change their doubts to hope?

 

It’s impossible?

Fortner begins today’s devotional reading by saying these verses are about four things that are impossible . . .

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:14–17)

Fortner says certain things must take place before any sinner can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved: that person must believe in Christ, hear the gospel — which also must be by the voice of a preacher — and no one can preach unless sent by God to do so.

While this is a common way for someone to be saved, I am cautious about putting God in a box. I’ve known people who were saved by the testimony of a peer, the angry words of a frustrated Christian, an encounter with a deadly snake, and by the words of a female missionary. I was saved while reading a book on reincarnation (false teaching) that quoted a Bible verse out of context.

Besides these personal experiences, the story of the rich young man who held his possessions more important than obeying God reminds me not to limit God. After Jesus uncovered this man’s idolatry of his possessions, the man walked away in sorrow and . . .

“Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’ And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.’” (Mark 10:23–27)

The disciples thought that God blessed people with prosperity so if the rich could not be blessed with salvation, who could? Jesus told them not to limit God. He’d just finished rebuking them for another error in their thinking; they also limited salvation to adults. 

“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” (Mark 10:13–16)

It is an error to limit the grace of God to any select group. The Jews did it, even though the Lord continually told them the Gentiles would also believe. Some who claim to be Christians do it too, pushing people who offend them beyond God’s call. While this isn’t about the method God uses to save people, the principle is the same; God’s ways are beyond our ways — and so is His grace!

Of course this passage from Romans about needing to hear the Word of God is important, but consider the context. Paul is talking about his Jewish people who were “ignorant of the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own” for they refused to submit to God’s righteousness. These people need to hear the Word of the Lord, for “faith comes by hearing.” They needed to listen and obey what God told them or they would miss out. Paul is not telling Christians that His hands are tied without a preacher. If that were the case, then He cannot use a burning bush, a donkey who speaks, a dream, or His own voice to reach those who are running the other way. God never sins, but He can do far more than we ask or imagine!

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, all the voices in the world must be tested against the plain truth of Your written Word. Each passage needs to be considered in its context and in the context of the entire story of redemption. This is not an excuse to “let the preacher do all the preaching” for You want me to share the Gospel too, but it is a reminder to not limit You to only one way to reach the lost or to talk to me.