The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-11-06
Lesson for November 9
THOMAS, THE HONEST DouBTER

THOMAS, THE HONEST Dou6TER
LESSON TEXT-John 11:14-16; 1875
8; 2O:24-29; 21:1. 2.
GOLDEN TEXT-And Thomas an
swered and said unto him. My Lord and
my God.
PRIMARY TOPIC Learning to
Trust Jesus.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Thomas. the Man
who Wanted to Be Sure.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR
TOPIC-Learning to Trust Jesus.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
Ic-The Value and Peril of Doubt.
The name Thomas means "a twin"
His alternate name, Didymus. means
the same. From the linking OF his
name with Matthew in the listing OF
the disciples, it is commonly inferred
that Thomas was twin brother OF
Matthew.
Thomas is constantly presented in
the Scriptures as man Of skeptlcal
mind. vet of unquestioned character.
He was an honest doubter. The Lord
is not displeased when men put him
to the test. No honest skeptic has
ever been left in darkness. The truth
of Christ's declaration still obtains,
eff any man will do his will, he shall
know John 7:1O.
I. The Fidelity of Thomas John
II :14-16).
When Lazarus, the beloved brother
in the Bethany home, was sick, the
distressed sisters, Mary and Martha,
sent for Jesus because they had come
to know him as more than mere
man. Jesus, after strange delay,
went to Bethany. He knew, and ap-
parently the disciples knew, that going
to Judea at this time meant death.
His mission in going unto Judea was
twofold: to strengthen the faith OF
the disciples wv. 11-15), and to restore
to these sisters their dead brother.
Jesus fearlessly discharged his
duty. though his life had been threat
ened. He plainly declared that Laz-
arus was dead. Thomas was skeptical
as to Jesus ability to raise Lazarus
from the dead. In spite of this fact,
his loyalty moved him to cast his lot
with Jesus.
II. Jesus, the Way to the Fathers
House John 1859.
Jesus asked the disciples to trust
in him even as they trusted in God,
assuring them that he was going to
the Fathers house and would come
back and escort them to heaven.
Christ asserted that he is:
1. The Way to God ". g..
Jesus is more than mere guide to
the Fathers house or a teacher. He
is the way itself.
2. The Truth ". g..
He is not merely the teacher OF
truth, but he is the truth incarnate.
In him we have the truth about man,
what he is and what he ought to be
and what he shall be in the future. In
him especially we have the truth
about God. Only as Christ reveals
God can men know him John 1:1S).
8. The Life ". g..
Christ is not merely the giver of
life. He is the very essence Of life.
III. Thomas Makes Absolute De-
mands John 20 :24-29).
1. Jesus manifests himself to the
disciples, Thomas being absent wv.
"a, 25).
He was absent at Jesus first ap-
pearance after the resurrection, just
why, we may never know. His absence
deprived him of vision of the Lord.
Absence from the assembly Of believ-
ers always occasions loss. The other
disciples went to Thomas with the
glad news of the resurrection, but he
did not believe their testimony. His
stubborn disbelief was such that he
doggedly declared that unless he saw
the nail prints and put his finger
therein and thrust his hand into the
Lords side he would not believe.
2 Jesus manifests himself to the
disciples, Thomas being present wv.
26-29).
Observe:
(1) The Lords kindness to those
who have difficulties wv. &c, 2O.
Thomas deserved rebuke. but the
Lord quietly supplied the evidence
demanded.
(2) The Lord reveals himself to
Thomas wv. q, 29).
Upon this revelation of himself
Thomas was transformed from
doubter to a confessor.
3. The superior blessing of believ-
ing without sight ". 29).
Having patiently furnished Thomas
with tangible evidence of his resur-
rection, Jesus instructed him that to
believe in him without such tangible
evidence as he demanded was higher
and better state of mind than his.
w. Jesus Reveals Himself After
the Resurrection (John Ill, p.
Thomas had learned his lesson. He
was on hand the next time the Lord
revealed himself.
T;fa