John: 20 24 - 31

 John: 20 24 - 31 

Our faith is always moving and transforming either positively or negatively. It is possible for the passionate Faith to cool, to grow cold to become unbelieving. It is possible for a small cool faith to grow large and powerful. We must never forget that without tending to faith it will drift toward unbelief. Sometimes, though not always, that happens as a result of disappointment.  We must understand the difference between expectation and experience. It is either disappointment or delight.  With this in mind we can perhaps understand Thomas’ case a little better.   If our expectations are exceeded we tend to be delighted. But if circumstances fall short of our expectations we tend to be disappointed. The greater the distance between our experience and our expectation is the greater the impact of our delight or disappointment.

Thomas was no weakling. In John 11:16 when Jesus was going back to Jerusalem Thomas thought it was a suicide mission but was willing to go anyway. The cross was a huge disappointment to Thomas. Whatever his expectations, the experience of the cross left Thomas terribly disappointed. Perhaps Thomas was prone to discouragement and depression. Such a person when in the midst of a low point can't accept good news easily. When Thomas heard that Jesus was alive his despondency overwhelmed the good news he heard and he didn't believe. We mustn't think of the disciple as emotionless paragons of faith and virtue. At this point Thomas was a hot mess of emotion. 

Jesus appears to Thomas and says"... Be not unbelieving but believing." Notice three key points. First Thomas is apparently moving toward unbelief.  Unbelief is more than doubt but is a hardness of heart, he was in real spiritual danger. Second there is a choice of the will to believe or to be in unbelief. That will decide whether he will become believing or not. Belief at times is not easy but it can be done if we will it.  Third, we need to be compassionate with those dealing with disappointments. Jesus loves and cares for Thomas and in that love challenges him. Struggle on, struggle on but let our will be resolute.

“Lord, help me in the struggle to have a determined will. AMEN”