Eight days after Jesus’s resurrection, John 20 tells us the disciples were hiding out in a locked room. It is in this passage of Scripture that Thomas gets his unfortunate nickname. In John 20:25, Thomas announces, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Thomas doubted the other disciples, but who wouldn’t have?
Ten grown men are trying to convince Thomas that Jesus, who he knows was dead, is now alive. This is story is a little too unbelievable for Thomas to believe. Thomas doubts, sure, but you would have doubted as well.
But the story continues. In that locked room with doubting Thomas, the Bible teaches us that Jesus appeared:
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:26-29
Notice a few important things about Jesus’s effort for his disciples and consider how they might apply in your own life.
First, Jesus met them where they were. Jesus was most likely not real thrilled that the disciples were still hiding out in fear. But Jesus went to them anyway. Jesus went to where the disciples were, not where he wanted them to be. As you seek to reach others with the gospel, go where they are. You can’t sit around hope they will come to you. Take the gospel to them and let them see the love that drives your effort.
Second, Jesus was persistent. The doors were locked, but that did not stop Jesus. Do not allow obstacles to become excuses. How often do you encounter an obstacle in your ministry or your evangelism efforts and decide it is just too hard, so you stop? You make excuses, “Our church can’t do that,” or “Our church isn’t that way.” Sometimes you might even go so far as to say, “We can’t reach those people, they are too hard-headed.”
Jesus encountered a locked door, but he also engaged with some hard-headed men. Thomas wouldn’t believe. The others did believe, but they wouldn’t act. Jesus knew what he wanted from these men, so he didn’t allow obstacles to keep him from his goal.
Third, Jesus knew he was going to find fear and unbelief. I know he expected them to be afraid because he initiated his visit with these words, “Peace be with you.” He anticipated unbelief because he went straight to Thomas and demanded, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”
Jesus walked through a locked door to get to the place where his disciples were. He walked into their fear, their unbelief, and their disobedience. He walked into their mess so that they could be delivered.
People around you are fearful and they struggle to believe. Their lives are messy and hard. If you are going to reach them, you’ve got to be willing to climb down into their mess with them. Like Jesus, you have to meet them in their mess so that they can be delivered.
Finally, Jesus proclaimed the gospel authentically. He didn’t just say it, he lived it before them and with them. He allowed them to see him, to touch him. Later he would even eat with them. As you seek to share the gospel with others, they are looking for a gospel that is more than words.
The next generation wants to experience Christianity, they don’t want you to tell them about it.
They get to experience Christianity as you live it with them. As you share the gospel with words and share the results of the gospel in your life through your actions.
Evangelism is not easy, and when we encounter obstacles, they can quickly become convenient excuses. Don’t allow obstacles to become excuses. Instead, use the obstacles as opportunities for showing your commitment to others and the great love of Jesus.
Photo by Anton Nazaretian on Unsplash
