Doubt || Shock Value || Week 1

Today, we start a 2-week journey of looking at the disciples’ reactions, having heard that Jesus is back on Earth with them. This mini-message series I’m calling: “Shock Value.” I changed the definition of shock value around a little bit to make it work for us. Shock value is the surprised reaction from people that see what seems unexpected. 

We’re focusing on Doubting Thomas. He thought that Jesus could not be back from the dead. He didn’t believe what they said. He needed proof. In John 20:25, Thomas says: “…I will have to see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger where the nails were, and put my hands into his side. Only then will I believe it.” Hearing what Thomas is saying this shocked me actually because Thomas knew of Jesus’ resurrection power. We have to travel back in time to John 11, where the death of Lazarus takes place. 

Jesus has learned about Lazarus’ death and decides to return to Jerusalem to see him. Still, the disciples were scared that this trip would lead to Jesus’ death. Out of all 12 disciples, guess who speaks up? Thomas. Thomas says this in John 11:16, “…Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Thomas was willing to go with Jesus and risk being killed for Jesus to see Lazarus. Yet just nine chapters later, Thomas doesn’t believe that Jesus came back to life.

The disciples had seen Jesus before they told Thomas, so they handed the proof they needed, but Thomas wanted to see Jesus himself. Why Thomas wasn’t at the Upper Room when Jesus stopped by, we don’t know, but one would think that he would believe these guys that he’s spent his life with, right? Thomas was around when Jesus was going to resurrect Lazarus but didn’t believe Jesus himself could come back to life. That doesn’t seem right, but that’s where doubt comes in. Sometimes for us to believe, we have to experience it for ourselves. 

Jesus has the power to do crazy, wonderful, miraculous things in our lives. Yet, when these things happen to other people, when have a hard time believing that it was Jesus. We want proof that it was Jesus who did it. When it happens to us, though, it’s shocking. Thomas was shocked when he appeared before the disciples a week later and gave Thomas the proof he wanted. 

As I mentioned earlier, sometimes we need to experience things for ourselves to believe. Our relationship with Jesus is something that we experience ourselves. No one can share your experience with Jesus. Jesus does things that we don’t expect, like feeding 5,000+ people on five loaves of bread and two fish. Things that seem improbable and shocking to you and me, but Jesus doesn’t need to work on how we believe things should. Jesus brings an upside-down view of the world that teaches us how to be more like him. Thomas had to see it for himself, and I pray that you get a moment to see Jesus in an upside-down way this week. The doubt will flip into belief.