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TIME WITH GOD FOR BUSY PEOPLE

WHAT THOMAS MISSED

John 20:19-29

The parallel passage to our text is Luke 24:36-49. In these verses we find the faithful apostles gathered on the evening of the first day of the week, and as He had promised, Jesus was there among them. One of the apostles, who should have been there, was missing. Where was Thomas?

We do not know much about Thomas. You will recall the conversation Jesus had with His disciples in John 14, in which He prepared them for His departure by stating, “where I go you know, and the way you know."(vs. 4) Thomas had asked, “How can we know the way?” He really did not want more information, but he was offering an excuse (see John 14:4, 5). When the disciples learned Jesus planned to go to Jerusalem and knowing He would face great opposition from the Jewish leaders, Thomas told the others “let us also go that we may die with him” (John 11:16). Of course, he became famous as the one who doubted the resurrection of Christ and emphatically declared, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." (John 20:25). I have often wondered why Thomas was not present when the Lord appeared to the apostles. Was he despondent over the death of Christ? It is certain he did not expect Jesus to be assembled with the disciples that evening. Think for moment what Thomas missed that Sunday night.

Thomas missed the fellowship with the very brethren, who could have encouraged him. One of the blessings of worship is the encouragement we receive from each other. When someone misses worship services, we often ask about them. We want to know how they are doing. It is our way of showing concern. Thomas missed seeing with his own eyes the risen Lord. Paul talks about the resurrection of Christ in a number of his books. Notice, he attributes the resurrection to the power of God (Eph. 1:19, 20). Thomas missed hearing Jesus say “peace be unto you;” words we all need to hear at times in our life. He missed having his “mind opened that he might understand the scriptures,” (Luke 24:44, 45). He missed the experience, “He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). He missed the commission given to them (Luke 24:47). The fact is Thomas lived in unbelief and possible jeopardy for a whole week, because he was not present Sunday evening.

Why do you miss services on Sunday evening? The Christian hungers and thirsts after righteousness (Matt. 5:6). He knows God has commanded we study (2 Tim. 2:15), and we, as His people, are to search the scriptures (John 5:39). We gladly obey the Lord’s commands in order “to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord” (2 Peter 3:18). Remember, your children and grandchildren are watching you; they will follow your example. As parents, we have a duty to “nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). We understand our influence on both our family and our friends is a fragile thing. We want our influence to count for Christ; not for sin and Satan (Matt. 5:13-16). It is a tragic realization to know a brother or sister stumbled along the way, because of our failure to lead in the right direction.

Don’t let Satan hinder you. If you have been neglectful of the services of Christ’s church, repent and confess it; be resolved to be “faithful unto death” that you may receive a crown of life.

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