Session 76 | John 20:26-31
John20:24-29 | Thomas Believes
Verses 24-25 -- NOTE -- VV. 24-25 ALSO INCLUDED ON SESSION 75
While Thomas has received the ignominious designation doubting Thomas, we should at least be fair in pointing out that none of the disciples believed before they saw (and touched?) Jesus!
There is every indication that the disciples touched Jesus on the night He first appeared (vv. 19-23 above).
While this Gospel does not mention it, in the same event, Luke 24:39 records Jesus as telling them, handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones. He then went on to eat food with them (Lk. 24:40-43). It would be almost unconceivable that they did not touch Him. It was only at this point they believed.
So, Thomas may distinguish himself by his absenteeism, but not by his doubting.
Verse 26 --
The next week Thomas met with the disciples, and Jesus appeared again.
As with the first visit, the doors being shut, it is assumed that Jesus miraculously appeared.
There is no reason to object to this as a miraculous appearance, though the language does not require it.
Of more interest is that this took place after eight days.
“a week later" (as interpreted in the New International Version).
“after eight" would be “on the ninth." Such an interpretation would make it to be Tuesday the following week.
“after eight"would be on Monday.
Only by making after eight to be on the eighth, and counting the original Sunday does it work out for the following Sunday.
What difference does it make? Only that some use very narrowly worded passages upon which to build a doctrine. Two examples will suffice:
“Sunday" interpretation. Such a doctrine also forgets that those involved were celebrating the feast of weeks, which involved counting the Sundays until Pentecost, which were counted as the morrow after the Sabbath (Lev. 23:15), and thus the first day of these weeks likely involved special gatherings.
Some use the three days and three nights (Matt. 12:40) to support a Wednesday crucifixion. I am not opposed to these calculations, but it seems that if you take Matthew 12:40 strictly you must do the same with John 20:26.
“take away" is that Jewish methods of counting time are far from “well-understood." We are dealing with a Hebrew mindset in a Greek language translated to English and into modern chronological norms. Such an exercise involves way too many assumptions to build any doctrine.
Verse 27 --
Jesus gave Thomas two basic commands. First, to touch, second, to believe.
The verse proves to us that even in the glorified body (1 Cor. 15:44) the marks of His death were seen.
While we cannot know what aspects of our own physical bodies will remain in the time of glorification, it is almost impossible to create a scenario in which the glorified body is unrecognizable.
Verse 28 --
Thomas immediately responds to Jesus' invitation, an invitation that let Thomas know that Jesus, though not present, had knowledge of his words to his fellow disciples in verse 25.
This testimony is similar to that of another obscure apostle, Nathanael, who called Jesus the Son of God...the King of Israel (Jn 1:48) early in Jesus' ministry.
I would not use this as the basis for an evangelistic outreach since claiming Jesus to be My Lord and my God“I submit to Jesus as a matter of works" or “I submit to Jesus as a matter of trust" or yet something else?
Verse 29 --
This could be taken as a chastisement of Thomas, but since reading emotion into text is almost impossible, I think it best to leave it as an observation.
Even without the physical presence, each of us requires some degree of proof before we believe. While requiring validity to belief, we should not insist on some form of manifestation. The Word of God itself is God's revelation of Himself.
John 20:30-31 | The Purpose of the Book
Verse 30 --
Even the three synoptic Gospels include many other signs than the fourth Gospel.
While Matthew seeks to convince that Jesus is the Messianic King, John attempts to prove Jesus as the Son of God. Therefore, the signs in the fourth Gospel are chosen closely to show Jesus in His deity.
Note: there are numerous works written on the signs of the fourth Gospel. Interestingly, they struggle to have a uniform list. There are six that are almost always given, some contain a seventh and some an eight. Rather than the effort to enumerate the signs (as the author did not choose to do), I think it best to read and study the entire Gospel. If the author had wanted an enumerated list and felt that would have been of value, he would have stated such.
Verse 31 --
The book begins with the declaration of Jesus as God (Jn. 1:1), and continues the same conviction to the end.
This verse emphasizes belief as fundamental.
The belief requested is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Such belief, in its strictest sense, is not belief unto salvation (which requires a faith in His completed work, which can only be surmised from the stated belief).
Furthermore, this verse says that this belief gives life through his name“kingdom" oriented (as further study would confirm). Compare Acts 3:6, 16, 4:10, 4:12, and 1 Corinthians 6:11.
The verse (and the Gospel) is more foundational to the Kingdom Gospel than the mystery Gospel, in spite of many similarities.
