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Back to Sermons Index Back to Home Page ARCHIVED SERMONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archived 14 05 2005 HE CHOSE PETER Pastor Linton Smith
Luke tells us that Jesus spent a night on a mountainside praying. In the morning He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them to be apostles. The first mentioned is Peter. Luke describes him as Simon (whom he named Peter). We know more about this man than most other people in the New Testament. His name occurs 176 times. So much has been said about Peter by so many people over the years that one wonders what more can be said. With that in mind I have chosen to look at three things about this man that stand out to me.. three strengths.. · HE KNEW HE WAS A SINNER Jesus had borrowed Peter’s boat.. put out a little from shore.. taught.. Then.. Luke 5:4-9.. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken.. I am a sinful man. We don’t hear people say that very often these days.. there is little sense of sin.. of need to be forgiven.. and because of that.. there is little appreciation of what Jesus did for us on the cross. People are made aware that they are sinners in different ways.. Some consider God’s law.. and realize they have fallen way short! Others ponder the great commandment.. to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind.. and strength.. and realize they have failed. Others meet a genuinely good person.. who literally oozes Christ-likeness.. grace.. and feel very uncomfortable.. Peter became aware he was a sinner when he was confronted with Jesus and who He really was. Jesus asked him to put out into the Lake to fish.. Peter.. protested.. Master.. Sir.. we have fished all night.. but.. I will do as you say. Then they caught the biggest catch of fish.. and Peter was blown away… suddenly realized Jesus was special indeed.. and addresses Him as Lord. Suddenly.. Peter realized he was in the very presence of God.. and suddenly.. he saw himself in a new light.. as a sinful man. Isaiah had a similar experience. He went into the Temple in a time of crisis.. had a vision of God.. saw the LORD.. and immediately became painfully aware of his own sinfulness.. Peter was confronted with Jesus.. Son of God.. and was made painfully aware of his sin.. his need for cleansing. And that led to a very deep appreciation of what Jesus did for him when He died on the cross.. In his letter he writes.. 1 Peter 2:24.. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.. 1 Peter 3:18.. Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. Peter would have agreed with John Newton.. and sung his heart out.. saying.. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me.. how precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed! Do you wonder why some believers are passionate? This is the reason.. they know they are sinners.. and are amazed by the grace of God.. the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.. the joy of forgiveness.. and must make it known! Do you want to be passionate? Draw near to Jesus.. read about Him.. see Him.. see how far short you fall.. and then ponder why Jesus died!
We often point to Peter’s failures.. Today.. look at them in a different way. Matthew 16:21-23.. From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” This shall never happen to You. Why did he say that? Because he loved Jesus! Just like a mother or father might say to a child who spoke of giving their life.. or a husband or wife say to the other.. or a child say to a parent.. Never! On another occasion.. Jesus said to Peter.. Luke 22:31-34.. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Peter replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. Why did he say that? Because he loved Jesus! Much later.. after Jesus had died.. and risen.. He met Peter on the beach.. and asked.. Do you love me? Peter answered truthfully.. Lord, You know that I love you [John 21:16] Challenges me.. do I love Jesus? How can I? Only one way I know.. spend time with Him.. reading about Him.. reading what He said.. and yes.. we do come to admire Him.. and then.. to love Him.
Peter was rebuked.. told he would fail.. and Jesus asked him three times.. Did he love Him. Peter took it all and bounced back. There is something admirable about a person like that. He was teachable. We see this in the Acts of the Apostles. Peter had risen to a position of leadership in the church. He was staying by the sea in Joppa.. It was nearly lunch time.. went up on the flat roof to pray.. and there.. he fell into a trance.. saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.. with all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds. A voice.. “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” Never! “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him again, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. Peter was still thinking about the vision, when the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” Peter did as he was told.. two days later.. he was in Caesarea.. at the home of a Roman soldier.. Luke tells us.. Acts 10:27-29.. Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. He rose above his prejudices.. things that had been drummed into him from childhood: You a Jew, you do not eat with non Jewish people, they are unclean! A teachable person! He had yet more to learn.. he spoke to these people about Jesus.. and then God did something that must have astounded Peter. He says.. Acts 11:15-17.. As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God? It went right against his cherished beliefs but he was convinced. And there is another incident that shows how humble and teachable he was. Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians [2:11] that at one time.. he had opposed Peter.. set him straight.. in front of other believers. Peter had been eating with non Jewish believers in Antioch.. then some Jewish believers visited.. and Peter withdrew.. and mixed only with the Jewish believers. Paul could not stand for this fickle behavior. Peter, live in line with the truth of the gospel – that God has extended His blessing to non-Jewish people as well as Jewish people. Live up to what you know is true! That would have been the end for some people.. never speak to that man again.. but not Peter. About 10 years later.. we hear him referring to Paul as Brother Paul. [2 Peter 3:15] This was the man Jesus called to be an Apostle.. the man who served Jesus so well.. aware of his sin.. God’s grace.. loved Jesus.. teachable.. Peter had the qualities we all need if we would serve God! Do we want to serve God.. want to serve His church and turn the tide in our day. Then.. these are three qualities we need.. realize we are sinners.. and be amazed at what Jesus did for us. Love Jesus. Be teachable.
HE CHOSE ANDREW When our son was born we called him Andrew. We liked the name.. we liked what it meant – manly, and we liked its association with the Apostle Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. The Apostle Andrew could be described as a go between. He brought Peter to Jesus. He drew attention to the lad with 5 loaves and two fish. He took the request of some Greeks to Jesus. He seems to have been a man in touch with people, and close to Jesus. A good example for all of us – be close to Jesus and in touch with people. We could develop that.. instead.. chosen to consider some of the things Andrew learned as a follower of Jesus.. He discovered..
In John 1:35-42 we read.. The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). John the Baptist was there again with two of his disciples. Andrew was one of them. Andrew was a fisherman.. and a disciple of John. This suggests he was very interested in spiritual things.. perhaps he was spiritually hungry.. searching for that something he felt was missing from his life.. searching for meaning.. purpose.. peace.. contentment.. Then.. one day.. Jesus passed by.. and John said to Andrew and another disciple.. Look, the Lamb of God. When Andrew and his friend heard this.. they followed Jesus. Something in those words connected with what he was thinking. Perhaps he had listened to John talk about the One who was coming.. the Lamb of God.. who would take away the sin of the world. Perhaps he was there the day before when John pointed to Jesus and said, Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Perhaps he thought of the lambs that were sacrificed every day in the Temple. One in the morning.. another in the evening.. sacrificed as burnt offerings.. offerings that made atonement for sinners.. that made it possible for sinners to be clean from all their sins! Perhaps he thought of the lambs sacrificed at Passover Or perhaps he thought of the words of Isaiah in Isaiah 53 He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.. He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him. Andrew spent the day with Jesus.. and then the first thing he did was.. find his brother. He told him.. excitedly.. We have found the Messiah! He had found the One who would die for all of us.. who would take the punishment for our sin.. so that we might have peace with God. Are you at peace with God today? You can be. Look to Jesus and believe He died for you.. and you will find that peace. · WHAT GOD WANTED HIM TO DO WITH HIS LIFE. Andrew the fisherman, the disciple of John the Baptist, was now convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away sin. One day he was fishing when Jesus came by.. Matthew 4:18-20.. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. That day.. he left his nets.. left his work.. and followed Jesus. That day he discovered what God wanted him to do with his life – he was to be a fisherman.. not for fish.. but for people. Little by little he discovered what this meant as he kept company with Jesus. He saw what Jesus did.. how He met the needs of people.. how he taught them.. and he did this himself.. sent out.. to preach and teach and heal.. And then.. when Jesus died.. and rose again.. He told them what they were to do.. Go and make disciples of all nations.. go and preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins to all nations! [Matt 28 and Luke 24] Go and tell people everywhere that their sins can be forgiven.. and will be.. if they turn away from their sin and put their trust in Jesus. And that is what God wants us to do with our lives, too. He may not call us to leave our occupations.. or families.. or homes.. but he certainly calls us make Jesus known by the way we live.. the things we do.. and the words we speak! Are we doing it? · HOW TO FACE UP TO BIG CHALLENGES. Jesus and His disciples had sailed across Lake Galilee to a remote place. People came from everywhere.. and were there to meet them. John 6:5-9.. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus asked His disciples.. Where shall we buy bread for these people? They were hungry. There were no corner shops there. To test them.. He asked, How will we meet this challenge? Philip costed the project. It would take more than 8 months wages to buy bread. Andrew had noticed a boy.. perhaps he had been talking to him.. He has five small loaves and two fish… but how far will they go among so many? Then he saw Jesus in action. He took these five loaves and two fish.. prayed.. and began to hand them out to the disciples.. and they handed them out to the people.. The came back for more and more.. everyone was fed.. and then they collected 12 baskets full of fragments! Andrew learned that day how to face up to big challenges. Never say, Impossible, but give the challenge to Jesus and then do as He says! It is the same for us today. Sum up the challenge.. take it to Jesus.. and then do as He leads.. and watch Him work! · HOW TO LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE FUTURE. In Mark 13:1-4 we read.. As he [Jesus] was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” Jesus answered them.. told them the temple would be destroyed in their life time. And it was! Then He spoke to them about the day of His second coming. He would die.. rise.. ascend.. and one day come on the clouds of heaven in great power and glory. And He said of that day.. Mark 13:32-37.. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.. What I say to you, I say to everyone: “Watch!” No one knows when it will be. But it will come.. and suddenly! Don’t speculate about when it will be.. just be ready whenever He comes. That is what Andrew learned that day. He discovered how to live in the light of the future – to be on guard.. to be alert.. to watch. Jesus says the same to us. We live in troubled times.. many think the coming of Jesus is near. It may be very near. But let’s not spend one minute speculating or trying to calculate when. Let’s just be ready! When he comes.. let’s be found faithfully serving Him!
Andrew discovered how to find peace with God. Have we? He discovered what God wanted him to do with his life. Have we? He discovered how to face up to big challenges. Have we? He discovered how to live in the light of the future. Have we?
HE CHOSE JAMES AND JOHN One of the most encouraging things about the Bible is that it tells the story of real people - people just like us; people who were far from perfect and yet chosen by God to serve Him. The twelve Apostles were like this. Today we look at James and John. They were brothers, the sons of Zebedee. They seem to have been very close. James it seems was the older brother, but seems to have lived in the shadow of his younger brother. Whenever James is mentioned it is nearly always ‘James and John’ not just ‘James’. James is seen without John once only – when he was executed, and even there he is described as the brother of John. We will consider them together. The first thing we notice about these sons of Zebedee is that..
They were preparing their nets to go fishing when Jesus came by. Mark 1:19,20.. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. They appear to have been wealthy. Their father owned a fishing business and had hired men, and his mother, Salome, was one of the women who provided for Jesus out of their means. [Lk8:3; Mk15:40] They were among the privileged few! And Jesus invited them to follow Him! What a privilege, but on top of that they became part of the inner circle of the Apostles. #Jesus was asked to help a sick little girl. By the time He arrived at the house she had died. Luke tells us.. Luke 8:51.. When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. James and John were there to see Him raise the little girl to life! #On another occasion Jesus climbed a mountain to pray. Luke writes.. Luke 9:28.. About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. There they saw something quite spectacular. The face of Jesus changed and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. They saw Moses and Elijah speaking with Him.. and then a cloud enveloped them.. and they heard a voice from the cloud saying, This is my Son whom I have chosen. Listen to Him. #The night before He was crucified Jesus went into an Olive garden to pray.. Mark 14:32,33.. They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. James and John were there.. alongside Jesus.. when the He faced the full horror of crucifixion the next day! What privileged people they were! But they were far from perfect! We get several glimpses of them in the gospels.. and discover that..
Jesus nicknamed them the Sons of Thunder [Mk3:16,16] and for good reason.. Luke 9:49-56.. “Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” Then we read that Jesus set out for Jerusalem and sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village. #John told Jesus, We saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us. I suspect that when he says, we, he refers at least to James. Why did they act like this? Was it out of fierce loyalty to Jesus? Possibly. Were they jealous? Did they feel superior.. the only people who had the truth.. the right to do these things? Whatever the reason.. Jesus did not approve. He said, Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you. There is a lesson here for all of us. Do not oppose people who do things in the name of Jesus because they are not part of our team, our group, our church. Don’t put them down! Practice love and tolerance! #Then.. when the Samaritans refused to welcome the messengers Jesus had sent.. James and John asked. Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy them? Why did they react like that? Out of fierce loyalty to Jesus? Or because they were angry and wanted to retaliate? Whatever the reason, Jesus rebuked them. There is a lesson here for us. Leave vengeance to God. Be like Jesus.. 1 Peter 2:23.. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
James and John were hot headed. In another place we learn that..
In Mark 10:35-37 we read.. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” In Matthew’s gospel we are told that their mother put them up to this. They seem to me to have been spoiled rich boys.. and it seems that their mother expected them to amount to something. That may explain why they were so ambitious.. sought such great things for themselves. Jesus gave them a lesson that day that we all need to learn. He described the way it is in the world.. Those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. And then said.. Not so with you! Mark 10:43-45.. Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. That is another lesson we need to learn.. and remember. There is no place in God’s family for selfish ambition.. no place for people to lord it over others! Leaders are to be servant leaders – like Jesus! They were privileged disciples.. but hot headed and ambitious. So what did the future hold for these two men? # # JAMES DIED AS A MARTYR. About 10 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus.. he was executed.. Luke tells us.. Acts 12:1,2.. King Herod.. had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. Our first reaction may be, What a waste! But that is not the way God sees it. James.. like Stephen before him.. went to be with Jesus. Here is another lesson we do well to learn. The death of a believer is not a tragedy.. a huge loss to loved ones.. but not a tragedy. Recently.. death of a believer at 54.. and now the death of a baby just a few days old. Tragedy. Yes.. if this life is all there is. But that is not the case. There is life after this life – with Jesus. That life is for eternity.. and this life is no more than a tiny piece of drift wood on the ocean of eternity!
# # JOHN LIVED ON TO PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN THE CHURCH. In the early chapters of the Acts we see John in the company of Peter.. healing a lame man, being arrested, impressing the authorities.. In Acts 4:13 we are told.. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished! We then see John and Peter being sent to Samaria. Acts 8:14.. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. And we find the Apostle Paul referring to him as a pillar in the church. Galatians 2:9.. James, [not the brother of John but the brother of Jesus] Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. And it seems likely that he penned the fourth gospel.. the Gospel of John.. the three letters of John.. and the Revelation. If so.. he became the Apostle of love! James was killed.. and went to be with Christ. John lived on and served Jesus faithfully and fruitfully. I am reminded of the words of Paul.. Phil 1:21-23.. To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far! James and John were ordinary men.. far from perfect.. but Jesus chose them to be His servants! That is the way it is with Jesus. He came into the world for people like us.. He laid down His life for people like us.. and He invites us.. imperfect as we are.. to be His disciples.. to put our lives in His hands and become like Him. Have we heard His call? Have we responded? Are we serving Him? Are we on the way to being like Him?
HE CHOSE PHILIP Do you read newspapers or magazines? How often have you read about ordinary good-living people? Read Christian books and even there we read mainly about people who have done extraordinary things. We may begin to wonder if there is a place for ordinary people in the world or even in the church. The Apostle Philip was an ordinary person. Leon Morris describes him as “a perfectly ordinary person” and comments that each time we see him “he seems somewhat out of his depth.” Morris goes on, “It is encouraging to reflect that Jesus went out of His way to find this perfectly ordinary Philip and to enlist him in the apostolic band.” [John, New International Com] In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke he is merely listed with the Apostles. In the Gospel of John we get four glimpses of him.We get a glimpse of him..
John 1:43-45.. The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Let’s think for a moment about how he became a disciple.. Just before he tells us about Philip, John tells us about how Andrew and Peter came to follow Jesus. Then he points out that like Andrew and Peter, Philip was from the town of Bethsaida. Makes me wonder whether they had influenced him.. had aroused his interest in Jesus. That is the way it often is.. someone becomes a believer in Jesus.. changes.. makes other people wonder. It was like that for me.. [Influence of cousin] What influence am I having on others? John also tells us that Philip found Nathanael.. and told him.. We have found the one Moses and the Prophets wrote about.. Clearly the Hebrew Bible.. our Old Testament.. had influenced him. Some suggest.. trained in it from a child.. others suggest he had long discussion with Nathanael about the Law and the Prophets.. and the Messiah of whom they wrote.. That is how it is today.. stories abound of people who came to trust in Jesus by reading a Bible.. in a gaol cell.. in a motel room.. and much of this as a result of the ministry of the Gideons.. Many others.. myself included.. greatly influenced by Sunday School teaching.. Are we using our Bibles at home.. teaching our children? Is God calling us to teach the children, teenagers, adults? And John also tells us that Jesus took the initiative. He found Philip and said to him, Follow me. Philip may have lacked initiative and may have needed this more than most but we all need it. The Bible teaches that not one of us.. can come to Jesus without God’s help. Jesus said, No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him [John 6:44]. And that is just what the Father does. The Holy Spirit of God convinces us of our need, convinces us that Jesus can meet our need.. and draws us to Him.. enables us to yield to Him. Recall how you became a believer.. how you began to feel empty, needy, and began to think about Jesus. It was the Holy Spirit of God at work.. drawing you to Jesus. And very likely someone was praying for you. Do we pray for others to come to faith.. do we plead with God to work.. to draw people to Himself!
We get a glimpse of Philip becoming a disciple then.. we get a glimpse of him.. · FAILING A TEST. Jesus and His disciples had taken a boat to the other side of the Lake.. looking for a break. When they got there a great crowd was already there.. John 6:5-7.. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Jesus tested Philip. Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? Philip was a very practical man. He summed up the situation and made a quick estimate of numbers.. and answered, Eight month’s wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite. Was that the response Jesus was looking for? Did Philip pass the test? I don’t think so. Jesus was looking for faith.. for a response something like this.. Jesus, I do not know where to get bread.. but I know that nothing is impossible to You.. whatever You choose to do.. You can do.. You are the Messiah. Did Jesus dump him because he failed the test.. No. He persevered with him.. kept him in the team. Isn’t that encouraging. Aren’t we all a little bit like Philip? I wonder what he thought after Jesus took a boy’s lunch.. and multiplied it to feed 10,000 people.. with 12 baskets full left over. Then, amazed, he learned what Jesus wanted him to learn. With Jesus nothing is impossible. Do we believe that? Are we facing up to challenges like Philip.. or with faith in Jesus?
We get a glimpse of him becoming a disciple.. failing a test.. and..
Jesus and His disciples were in Jerusalem for the Passover..John 12:20-22.. There were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.Why did the Greeks go to Philip? Was Philip a Greek? Had he had contact with them before? Was it simply because he was approachable? Philip did not go directly to Jesus but went to Andrew.. and then he and Andrew went to Jesus. Was it because he lacked confidence? Possibly. Whatever the reason, I am glad we are told about this because it is so encouraging. Jesus needs people like Philip.. ordinary people.. approachable people.. we do not need to be brim full of confidence.. we just need to do as Philip did.. go to another believer for help.. We can all do that.. at work.. in the street.. at Uni.. school.. do not be frightened to be known as a friend of Jesus.. do not be frightened of questions.. call in another believer to help. And I am glad we are told about this because the request of the Greeks is such an important request.. Sir, we would like to see Jesus. Some pulpits have that written on them.. to remind preachers.. that what we all need most.. is to see Jesus. Focus on Jesus.. Speak about Him..
We get a glimpse of him becoming a disciple, failing a test, acting as a go between and..
Jesus had been speaking about going away to prepare a place for His disciples. Thomas had asked Him about the way to the place He was going. Jesus had said, I am the way to the Father.. if you had known me.. you would know Him as well.. This was all too deep for Philip.. John 14:8-11.. Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. Philip showed a desire to experience God for himself.. but he was also a little slow to ‘catch on.’ But I am glad he was. For what an answer Jesus gave! Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. The Father lives in me.. is at work in me.. the words I speak.. the things I do.. are His words.. His deeds. If you have seen me.. you have seen Him. Think about what He said. The invisible God has become visible! The incomprehensible God has become to some degree comprehensible! The unapproachable God has become approachable! Josiah Conder put this amazing truth into words..
Thou art the everlasting Word, The Father’s only Son; God manifestly seen and heard, And heaven’s beloved one: Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou That every knee to Thee should bow.
In The most perfectly expressed The Father’s glories shine; Of the full deity possessed, Eternally divine: Worthy, O Lamb of God, art Thou That every knee to Thee should bow.
One of the books that influenced me as a young Christian was a book written by J.B.Phillips – Your God is Too Small. He challenged the way we picture God. For most of us our picture of God is a very blurred picture.. out of focus.. In Jesus.. the picture is focused! Jesus is God focused! In a recent Daily Devotional, David Roper wrote that people are looking for love and not finding it.. then wrote.. But when they give themselves to God, as He is made real and personal in Jesus, they find the love they have been looking for all their lives [RBC /Our Daily Bread 22-10-04]. Have you discovered that? Have your children asked you what God is like? Has a friend.. fellow worker.. asked you.. How did you answer? Next time.. tell them.. Jesus said.. Anyone who has seen me.. has seen the Father.. He is like Jesus.. read the New Testament.. see what Jesus is like.. and you will see what God is like! We can learn from Philip.. from the way he became a disciple.. the influence of other disciples.. the influence of the scriptures.. Jesus took the initiative. God still does that.. draws people to Jesus.. an encouragement to pray.. We can learn from him to see challenges with faith. Jesus is the Messiah. Nothing is impossible to Him. We can learn from him to be there for other people, to be approachable, to seek the help of other believers to introduce people to Jesus. We can learn from the answer Jesus gave to his gigantic demand.. we can learn what God is like. God is like Jesus! And we can draw encouragement from Philip. As Leon Morris puts it, Philip was a perfectly ordinary man, but Jesus chose Him to be one of His disciples. Let that encourage us – Jesus has a place in His team for you - and for me!
HE CHOSE BARTHOLOMEW We have been looking at the men Jesus chose to be apostles. We have thought about.. Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip. Today we are looking at Bartholomew. This man is mentioned only in the list of the Apostles. That is all. This could be a very short message.. and would be but for one thing.. this man is commonly identified with Nathanael. Bartholomew seems to be the name by which he is known in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Nathanael in the gospel of John. It is likely that his full name was Nathanael Bartolmai, Nathanael son of Tolmai. He was from Cana in Galilee and was one of the seven disciples who had breakfast with the Risen Lord by the Sea of Galilee [John 21:1-14]. John describes how he became a disciple in John 1:43-51. We will reflect on this passage today.. reflect on this man.. and see what we can learn from him. As we do.. we see that Nathanael was..
John 1:45,46.. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. It seems that Philip and Nathanael were good friends.. and had spent time studying.. reflecting on.. the Hebrew Bible together. To my mind that is why Philip says, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Even if that is not the case.. Philip expected Nathanael to know what he was talking about. This man was familiar with the Hebrew Bible! And then he says.. Can anything good come from Nazareth? This may have been small town rivalry.. Nathanael came from nearby Cana.. or possibly it reflected the attitude of the religious leaders.. In John 7:52 they say, Look into it ,and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee. Nathanael was not ignorant. He was familiar with the scriptures and the common interpretations of the scriptures. I find that a challenge – to know the scriptures.. How well do you know them?
John writes, John 1:46,47.. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. Then John goes on to tell us that Jesus saw Nathanael approaching.. He was skeptical, but he did not have a closed mind. He took up Philip’s invitation to come and see! His attitude was.. Come on! It can’t be right but I will come and have a look. And just as well for him that was his attitude. Imagine.. if he had said.. go away.. you are speaking nonsense.. I know the scriptures.. and know you are wrong. Are we like Nathanael – open minded? What blessings are we missing out on because we have a mind shut to new and different things.. things that do not fit into our present understanding of the Scriptures?
John continues.. John 1:47,48.. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. In the next chapter John tells us that Jesus knew what was in people.. what people are really like. He knew what Nathanael was like.. and what he saw.. was this – Nathanael was honest to the core. Jesus said, Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false. He uses a word that was used to describe the fishing bait! Isaac used it to describe his son, Jacob – the first one to be called Israel. The birthright.. belonged to the first born.. Esau.. and Jacob.. deceived his blind father into thinking he was Esau.. and his father blessed him.. willed everything to him.. instead of to Esau.. Isaac later told Esau.. Gen 27:35.. “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.” Nathanael was nothing at all like this! And for that reason.. one commentator translates the words of Jesus like this.. Here is a true Israelite in whom there is no Jacob [Morris p166]. And Nathanael’s response shows that Jesus was right. Leon Morris comments, “A more guileful man would have ‘modestly’ asserted his unworthiness.” [John’s Gospel p166]. What a fine man he was.. what a challenge to us.. to be honest to the core.. Start with being honest with ourselves and with God!
Nathanael had asked, How do you know me? John goes on.. John 1:48,49.. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” I saw you while you were still under the fig tree. These words somehow convinced Nathanael that Jesus was the One of whom Moses and the prophets wrote.. the Son of God.. the King of Israel.. the Messiah. What was Nathanael doing under the fig tree? Likely that we are meant to see him sitting there, reflecting on the Scriptures.. and praying.. Leon Morris goes a little further, It seems probable that Nathanael had had some outstanding experience of communion with God. That makes a lot of sense to me. Jesus knew all about this outstanding experience of communion with God.. and made it obvious to Nathanael. When Nathanael realized this.. he declared.. Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel. And when he said that.. he was also saying.. I am an Israelite as You say.. You are my king! What a remarkable way to come to faith! It still happens! This week.. I read about a person who saw a man in a dream.. a man he had never seen.. inviting him to follow him.. and then saw the Jesus Film.. and realised the man was Jesus. How did God bring us to the conviction that Jesus is the Son of God? Perhaps you are not yet sure.. keep on seeking.. praying.. you will find. John tells us in 20:31.. that the reason he has told us about Jesus.. His teaching.. the things He did.. was so that we might believe He is the Christ, the Son of God. Read the Gospel of John. Let God speak!
· SHOWN AN ASTOUNDING TRUTH. John 1:50,51.. Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Jesus referred to Genesis 28:12,13,16-19. Jacob had deceived his father.. robbed his brother.. and was on the run.. rested for the night.. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.. When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel.. I believe that Nathanael had been reflecting on this passage under his fig tree! He had reflected on heaven opened.. the ladder.. the angels.. and Jacob’s response.. this is the very gate of heaven. Now Jesus says, Nathanael, hold the picture in your mind.. the open heaven.. the ladder.. the angels going up and down on it.. BUT make one change! Replace the ladder with Me. I am the link between heaven and earth.. between God and people.. I am the ladder to heaven.. I am the way to heaven. Tasker in the Tyndale commentary writes, Jesus is the real ladder by which the gulf between earth and heaven is bridged. He has bridged that gulf for every person on this planet. He came from heaven.. into this world.. as a man like us.. He showed us what God the Father is like.. He died on a cross.. and rose again.. and did this.. for people like us! This is the message our world needs to hear! When people understand it.. believe that.. and invite Jesus into their lives.. as Son of God.. and King.. they are changed.. Has it changed us? Are we making it known? If we do.. we will make a difference in our world.. in the world.. and` may even.. like the early believers.. turn the world upside down.
HE CHOSE MATTHEW A father came home from work.. sat down to relax and read the paper. His son had other ideas.. and pestered and pestered his father. His father took a page of the newspaper with a picture of the world.. tore it into pieces.. Go into other room and put the world back together.. In almost no time the boy returned.. How did you do it so quickly? It was easy. On the other side of the world was a picture of a man and as soon as I got the man back together the world was OK too. Jesus Christ can change the world.. and that is how He does it. He puts people back together.. one person at a time. He did that for Matthew. For some time now.. we have been looking at the men Jesus chose to be Apostles. Matthew stands out among them. He was well known – and hated, because he was a tax collector. As I have thought about this man this week three things about him grabbed my attention.
It happened in Capernaum on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Matthew 9:1,2.. Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” That man walked home – a new man. People were amazed. No doubt the news flooded the streets and added to what Matthew had already heard. Matthew goes on.. Matthew 9:9.. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Luke refers to Matthew by his other name, Levi.. and writes.. Luke 5:27,28.. After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Matthew left everything and followed Jesus. Left his tax collecting business.. and went with Jesus. He was blown away by Jesus. He was a tax collector, a crook, wealthy, hated. Everyone knew his taxes were far too high.. knew he was lining his own pockets.. and none of the religious teachers, the Rabbis, would come near him. But Jesus did. He invited him to go with Him! He was blown away by that! He got up and went with Him! These days some scholars dispute whether this Matthew was the author of the first Gospel, the Gospel according to Matthew, but Christians in the first and second century.. and until quite recently.. were in no doubt. Matthew listed the apostles like this.. Matthew 10:2,3.. These are the names of the twelve apostles..: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector.. Matthew the tax collector. He alone mentions this! What can we draw from that? It gives me a picture of Matthew.. perhaps has an older man.. compiling the stories and sayings of Jesus.. and when he mentions himself.. he has to say.. the tax collector.. because he still marvels at what he was.. how kind Jesus was.. and what a difference Jesus had made in his life. He had given him a new start. Put him back together. Is that how it is with us? Was there a time when we were blown away by the kindness of Jesus to us? Do we remember it.. dwell on it.. rejoice in it? Answer this question: If Jesus had not come into my life.. what would my life be like today? I would not have trained for the ministry.. would not have met my life partner.. and would not have had the joy doing something I have found very meaningful for 40 years.. and would have missed out on the blessing of seeing God put people back together.. and today I would still be wondering what life was all about! What about you? Work out an answer and be blown away once more by Jesus!
Matthew was blown away by Jesus.. and the first thing he did was hold a great banquet.. invite his friends.. and Jesus and His disciples. Matthew himself simply refers to the dinner.. Matthew 9:10.. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. Luke tells us.. Luke 5:29.. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. I do not think I am reading too much into this when I say that Matthew threw this dinner and invited tax collectors and sinners because he was eager to introduce these people to Jesus. I have noticed repeatedly over the years that new and excited believers do just as he did. I did it as a new believer.. threw a party.. invited all the people I knew in my age group.. and then.. in my enthusiasm.. hit them over the head with the gospel! I have seen others do it.. One person becomes a Christian.. is excited.. blown away.. tells his mates.. and soon others have also become believers.. There are two things that stand out about new believers! They have friends who do not yet believe.. and they are excited.. and tell their friends about Jesus. Are we like that? If we have been believers more than about 5 years.. the chances are.. that we have mainly Christian friends now.. and know very few people who have yet to believe.. and have lost our passion! Most of us need two things – to restore contact with people who do not believe.. and to restore the fire in our hearts! Next year.. launching a training process we have called ‘Making A Difference – Now And In Eternity.” We want to be a church that makes a difference in people’s lives.. in our community.. our world. To do that.. we need to be fired up.. to be trained and encouraged.. and to make contacts in the community. We believe this training process will achieve that. We will meet in small groups.. encourage one another.. and be trained by qualified people on video.. Some will continue to serve God in existing ministries.. some will be involved in brand new ministries using the church buildings.. others will get involved in the community somewhere.. We will be trained.. encouraged.. enthused.. meet people who do not yet know Jesus.. and make a difference. Be part of it!
· HE WAS EAGER TO CONVINCE HIS FELLOW JEWS THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH. Read the Gospel that Matthew wrote.. and you will be struck by the fact.. that over and over again.. he says words like this.. This happened to fulfil what was written in the Hebrew Bible. Matthew says something like this ten times.. and Jesus 3 times. We will look at just a few.. In chapter one he tells the story of Joseph and Mary.. and how Mary.. still a virgin.. discovered she was pregnant.. and writes.. Matthew 1:22,23.. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.” In chapter 4 he tells us how Jesus now 30 years old.. left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum.. He writes.. Matthew 4:13-16.. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” In chapter 21 he describes how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey.. and writes.. Matthew 21:4,5.. This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” And in chapter 26 he describes the arrest of Jesus.. and the attempt of Peter to prevent it.. Matthew writes.. Matthew 26:52-54.. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” What was Matthew trying to do? What was his passion? He was writing with a clear purpose in mind – to convince his fellow Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.. the One promised in the Hebrew Bible.. that all the promises and prophecies.. find their fulfillment in Him. And what a powerful argument it is. In more recent times.. Peter Stoner has applied the law of probability to just 8 of the many prophecies.. and found that.. the probability that they would be fulfilled in one person is 1 in 1hundred thousand million million.. Stoner pictures it like this: Silver dollars.. cover Texas [27% of WA] 2 ft deep.. mark one.. blindfold a man.. send him to find it.. what chance? Just the same chance that these 8 predictions be fulfilled in one person! [Evidence That Demands a Verdict p167] Good reason to consider Jesus.. and to believe. Have we? Be encouraged by Matthew. Be encouraged by Isaiah 57:15.. For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Matthew had a strong sense of purpose.. a driving passion.. have we?
HE CHOSE THOMAS Recently I was talking to a man who had once belonged to a religious sect and is now a Christian. He told me some worrying things about the sect to which he had belonged. What worried me most was this. They have it in writing that is OK to tell a lie to draw people into their sect. How do you react to that? I find it very disturbing.. because the Bible puts a very high value on honesty! Today we are thinking about a man who was honest to the core. In recent weeks we have looked at some of the men Jesus chose to be Apostles. Today we are thinking about Thomas. He has been labelled Thomas the doubter. I think that is very unfair. He may have been slow to catch on and sceptical – as some say. But there is much more to him than that. I like him.
There are three things about him that impress me deeply.
The last time Jesus had been in Jerusalem an attempt had been made on his life. He had escaped and gone to the other side of the River Jordan. He was there when He received word from some close friends who lived in Bethany near Jerusalem. His friend, Lazarus was ill. For some reason He waited two days and then acted. John 11:7,8.. Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” They could not understand why he would go back there.. why He would walk into danger. A little later we read.. John 11:14-16.. Then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Thomas faced the facts! And the fact was it was very dangerous to go back to Judea. He faced up to this.. and said to the other disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with Him. How did Thomas say this? What was his tone of voice, his body language? Did he shrug his shoulders in hopeless resignation.. in despair.. as he said this? Or did he say it with conviction.. Let’s go with Him.. and if need be.. die with Him. Either way.. here was man who was not going to let Jesus walk into danger by himself. He knew the risks.. and he was going to be there. He was devoted to Jesus - and he was loyal! One person has written, Here is a sufficient rule to live by, whether our faith be dim or clear – sheer loyalty to Jesus! [Morris/John note p45] That was Thomas.. and because he was loyal.. he was there alongside Jesus when Jesus performed His greatest miracle. He raised Lazarus.. who had been dead and buried for four days.. raised him to life. Makes me ask, How devoted.. how loyal.. and I?
Imagine you are listening to a teacher perhaps in school setting.. or in a Bible study group.. and you haven’t got a clue what the teacher is talking about. You look around.. others seem to be following OK.. Will you ask a question and show your ignorance? Or will you pretend you understand rather than be seen as slow to catch on? Thomas was faced with a situation like that. Jesus was saying some strange things.. John 13:33.. My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. Peter asked Him a question. In John 13:36 we read.. Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Jesus answered Peter and then went on to say.. John 14:2-4.. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas didn’t have a clue what He was talking about. Did he pretend he understood? Did he fear losing face? No.. we read.. John 14:5.. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” He was unashamedly honest! Am I? Thomas was.. and because he was.. Jesus made one of His greatest statements. John 14:6.. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
What a statement! Where am I going? I am going to the Father, to God the Father - in heaven. And what is the way? The way is not a pathway, but a person. I am the way. The way is not some religious ritual, but a relationship with Me. You can only come to God the Father through me. In me you find the truth.. in Me you find life! E. Stanley-Jones, missionary and writer, told of an explorer who was going through dense jungle in Africa. As he treaded the trackless labyrinth he said to his African guide: ‘Is this the way?’ The guide replied, ‘There is no way – I am the way.’ [The Word Became Flesh p49] That is how it is with the way to heaven. Jesus is the way!
Jesus died a dreadful death. Nails driven into his hands.. a spear thrust into His side.. was buried.. but God raised Him! In John 20:19,20 we read.. On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. The disciples were overjoyed.. and had Thomas been there he might have been overjoyed, too! But he wasn’t there! John 20:24,25.. Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” Picture the scene.. they are full of enthusiasm.. Thomas is still grieving.. They keep on telling him Jesus is alive.. Thomas says.. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” What was he saying? Something like this.. I am not go to believe what you say.. unless I see what you saw! And I will not be satisfied with a superficial look.. I want to know for sure that it is Jesus.. the Jesus who was crucified.. and that He is real.. not some apparition. He spent the next week.. wondering.. struggling.. then we read.. John 20:26-28.. A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though 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; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Did Thomas touch Jesus.. touch His wounds? We will never know.. What we do know.. is that he was devoted to Jesus.. loyal.. unashamedly honest.. and He was totally convinced! This was the Real Jesus. Risen. Alive! Frank Morison was something of a modern Thomas: “I wanted to take this Last Phase [the last seven days] of the life of Jesus.. to strip it of its overgrowth of primitive beli |