And also there's a notice there about the vacancy and the appointment of a vacancy committee and I'll just read that notice through.
The Kirk session met on Monday the 15th of July and agreed to follow the practice previously adopted during a vacancy by taking on the role of the vacancy committee.
The purpose of the vacancy committee is to arrange for the pulpit to be supplied with ministers who are considered suitable to fill the vacancy.
But the final choice belongs to your communicant membership.
The vacancy committee would like to stress that they are seeking to secure the full scope of congregational interest so that the process of contacting ministers and arranging dates for them to preach can begin.
The initial meeting of the vacancy committee is scheduled for Monday the 26th of August.
And over the next five weeks as we pray to the Lord for guidance, the elders would like to encourage everyone in the congregation to speak to their own elder or any elders or any of the elders and inform them of who you would like to be invited to preach in Stornoway.
Please bear in mind that certain procedural steps are required, namely the completion of a financial schedule as well as a congregational development plan.
It is hoped that both these items will be presented to the congregation in September before being sent to the Presbytery and the Mission Board for approval.
All these intimations are, of course, God willing.
We'll now join together in our worship of God by singing to his praise in Psalm 1 in the Scottish Psalter version that you'll find on page 200.
Psalm 1.
The opening psalm to the book of Psalms, a psalm that speaks about two ways to live.
The words there are,
And that man has perfect blessedness, who walketh not astray, in counsel of ungodly men, nor stands in sinners' way, nor sitteth in the scornish chair, but platheth his delight upon God's law, and meditates on his law day and night.
He shall be like a tree that grows near planted by a river, which in his season yields his fruit, and his leaf fadeth never, and all he doth shall prosper well.
The wicked are not so, but like they are unto the chaff, which wind drives to and fro.
We'll sing this whole psalm down to the end, verse Mark 6, to God's praise, and the tune is Denfield.
We'll stand to sing,
That Man Has Perfect Blessedness.
That man has perfect blessedness.
The man has perfect blessedness.
That man has perfect blessedness.
It was the man that God has perfect blessedness.
That man has perfect blessedness.
It was always a love.
The man has perfect blessedness.
信 R winger
crawly
Dutchmen therefore shall not stand
such as the God we are.
Glory to the Savior of the just
shall we give in the year.
For by the way of God we may
come to the Lord his throne.
Great as the way of wicked name
shall quite be overcome.
Let us now join together in prayer.
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, we thank you that we can be joined again this evening now to return
praise and thanks to you.
And as we sing these words we are mindful of the separation that is made, of the divisions that is made between the chaff and the wheat, between the righteous and the wicked, between the believer and the unbeliever.
So Lord, we pray as we gather that we would be set before your feet this evening.
That we would see ourselves in light of your word.
That you would illuminate who we are before God.
That we would draw near to you with reverence and fear.
Saying and announcing, proclaiming that you are holy, holy, holy.
Lord, our God, we pray that you would have mercy upon us.
That we would know the full extent of your everlasting mercy and love that has been shown to us in Christ Jesus.
And it is in Christ Jesus that we have confidence to draw near to you.
For we look at ourselves and we see so many failures.
We see the sinfulness of our hearts.
We see the desires of the flesh.
Leading us in ways contrary to your word.
But Christ saw us in our affliction.
In our great need of a saviour.
And Christ chose us before we chose him.
Christ loved us before we loved him.
And so Christ came in his abundance of compassion.
To alleviate us from our great suffering of sin.
To take that burden of condemnation away from our backs.
A burden that we cannot carry.
A burden that leaves us guilty before God.
You take it from us.
You part us.
You part us from the sins.
So that those who believe in you have no more condemnation before God.
We wonder that Christ would ever love us.
But let us stand with all that he does.
Let us come before the cross and see the riches that are immeasurable.
In his love that he died for his friends.
No greater love is this that anyone can show to another.
That he would give up his life.
And so he did for all his people.
So let us have understanding of this.
Let us see Christ.
In a way that we have never seen him before.
In his beauty.
In wonder.
In ways that we cannot fully comprehend.
Lord, by the power of your spirit.
Open our eyes and unblock our ears.
To see Christ.
To understand the gospel.
To receive Jesus Christ.
And to believe in him.
To trust in the resurrected and risen Lord Jesus.
And we pray that this gospel message would go out with power across our nation.
To all lands and all countries.
And we pray for Labourish to go with it.
We pray that you would raise up people to bring your message to the world.
To our nation.
To our towns.
To our villages.
To the people that have no word of Jesus Christ.
Who have forgotten Jesus Christ.
Who do not know what the cross means.
Lord, we pray that you would bring understanding to our people.
And that we would have a concern for souls that are lost.
Whether they be in our nation or in our families.
We pray that you would give us wisdom in these things that are so difficult.
We wish that we could make them understand.
We wish that we could open their eyes to see Christ Jesus in all his beauty.
But we pray that you would give us words according to your will and according to your ways.
Aligned with your providence.
That you may open their eyes to the power of your spirit.
And Lord, we give thanks for faithful ministries from this pulpit.
We give thanks for the ministry of James McKeever.
We thank you for him and Donna being here.
We pray that we would be mindful of him in his retirement.
And likewise, Kenny I.
We pray that we would be mindful of him also.
And we pray for Calum Mordo.
We pray for Johan and the family.
We pray that you would uphold them and strengthen them for the time ahead.
The time of vacancy.
Time of uncertainty.
A time of changes.
Lord, we pray that we would be prayerful as a people.
That we would be considerate of one another.
That we would be asking you to show us and direct us in your ways.
And lead us to someone whom you have chosen.
To be our under-shepherd.
To direct us and to guide us.
Lord, we pray for the Lord.
We pray for congregations who are likewise in vacancy.
We pray for Graver.
We pray for Shobost.
We remember the two congregations in use.
We pray likewise that you would give them one mind together.
Lead them to a man that is suitable for them.
To teach and instruct them.
To show them Jesus Christ.
Lord, we acknowledge that it is not of our own strength.
Nor any man's strength.
That we can open eyes.
But we fully rely upon the power of your spirit.
God, we pray for the Lord.
So as we turn to your words this evening.
As we sing your praises.
As we consider it.
Instruct us.
Guide us.
Teach us.
Forgive us if we say anything on this.
Lord, just turn us towards you.
Show us your paths, we pray.
Meet us at our own need.
Whatever it is.
For you are a God that hears our prayers.
You are a God that hears the cries of our souls.
The anxieties and anguish that we feel.
The cries and pains of life.
You know them.
But you are a loving heavenly Father that knows what is best to give to his children.
And so we wait faithfully upon you.
To instruct us and guide us.
We pray for those who do have worries.
We pray that you would be a wonderful counsellor to them.
We pray for those who are born.
We pray that you would be their comfort.
For you are the God of all comfort.
We pray that you would be near to those that are broken hearted.
For we know that the scars of loss can last many years.
And often never go away.
And remain with us.
Comfort your people, we pray.
Lord, we ask that you would feed our souls.
Enrich us as we join together here.
May we know the blessing of being together as your people.
Speak to us through your word.
Encourage us.
Enrich us.
Guide us.
And keep us.
We pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
We'll continue in our praise of God by singing in Psalm 4.
Psalm 4 in the Sing Psalms version.
Find that on page 4.
Singing from verse 3.
Down to the end of that psalm again.
Psalm 4.
Sing Psalms.
Singing from verse 3.
Know that the Lord has set apart the godly as his own.
The Lord will hear me when I call.
And my request make known.
In anger do not break God's law.
Consider and be still.
Present a righteous sacrifice.
And wait upon his will.
Oh, who can show us any good?
I hear so many say.
Oh, Lord, shine on us with your light.
Show us your face, I pray.
You filled my heart with greater joy than others may have found.
As they rejoiced at harvest time.
When grain and wine abound.
I will lie down and sleep in peace.
My heart will rest secure.
For you alone, oh gracious Lord.
Will keep me safe and sure.
We'll sing these words to the tune.
We'll stand to sing.
Know that the Lord has set apart the godly as his own.
The Lord will hear me when I call.
And my request may know.
In anger do not break God's law.
Consider and be still.
Present and be still.
And wait upon his will.
Or who can show us any good?
I hear so many say.
O Lord, shine on us with your light, show us your grace, I pray.
You fill my heart with greater joy, another may have found.
As they rejoice at harvest time, when rain and wine are.
I will lie down and sleep in peace, my heart will rest, Savior.
Are you alone, O gracious Lord, will keep me safe and sure.
Let us turn now to a reading in Scripture, and we'll find that in the Gospel of John.
John chapter 11, from the beginning of that chapter.
And again this evening we'll have two readings from the Gospel of John.
After reading in John 11, we'll turn to John chapter 20.
John chapter 11, the beginning, down to verse 27.
The account of Lazarus' death.
Let us hear God's word.
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother
Lazarus was ill.
So the sister sent to him, saying, Lord, he whom you love is ill.
But when Jesus heard it, he said, this illness does not lead to death.
It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
Then after this, he said to the disciples, let us go to Judea again.
The disciples said to him, Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?
Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in the day?
If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.
After saying these things, he said to them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.
The disciples said to him, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest and sleep.
Then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.
But let us go to him.
So Thomas called the twin, said to his fellow disciples,
Let us also go, that we may die with him.
Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.
Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,
and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.
So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.
Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.
Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again.
Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.
Do you believe this?
She said to him, yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.
Now, we turn to John chapter 20.
And we read there from verse 24.
This is Jesus' resurrection appearance to Thomas.
We'll read down to the end of the chapter.
Now, Thomas, one of the twelve called the twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples told him, we have seen the Lord.
But he said to them, unless I see 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.
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.
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.
Thomas answered him, my Lord and my God.
Jesus said to him, have you believed because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book.
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Amen.
May the reading of God's word be a blessing to those who have heard it.
We'll continue in our praise now by singing in Psalm 147 in the Sing Psalms version.
You'll find that on page 193 of the Blue Praise Book, singing from verse 14.
Sing down to verse marked 18.
Psalm 147 in verse 14.
The Lord will grant you peace within the borders of your land,
and finest wheat will fill your fields from his sustaining hand.
To all the corners of the earth the Lord's commands proceeds,
for when he speaks his word goes forth through all the world with speed.
He spreads the snow as wool, the frost like ashes on the land.
He hurls forth icy hail like stones.
Who can such cold withstand?
But when he sends his mighty word and makes the warm winds blow,
the frozen waters start to melt and once again to flow.
May the Lord break down the coldness of our heart and make the warmth of his spirit flow in us.
Let us stand to sing this Psalm 14 to 18, the tune is Torwood.
The Lord will grant you peace within the borders of your land.
The Lord will grant you peace within the borders of your land,
and kindness we will fill your fields from his casting hand.
To all the corners of the earth the Lord's commands proceed.
For when he speaks his word goes forth through all the world with speed.
He spreads the snow as wool, the frost like ashes on the land.
He earns for price in him like stones.
Who can such cold withstand?
He earns for price in him like stones.
But when he sends his mighty word and makes the warm wind blow,
the frozen waters start to melt and once again to the wind.
Let us stand back.
To всю life.
Now we turn back to the passage that we read there in John chapter 20.
As you read it, verse 29.
Jesus said to him,
Have you believed because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet have believed.
Now if you were with us in the morning,
we thought about Jesus' resurrection appearance
to the fearful disciples within the locked room.
Now it took place on the evening
of Jesus' first appearance to Mary.
Jesus appeared to Mary at sunrise.
He appears to the disciples at the evening hour.
And now we come to this account with Thomas.
We're eight days later in the storyline,
but it doesn't seem like we've progressed very far, does it?
We're still in a locked room,
which we believe is the same.
Locked room.
And this third resurrection appearance,
it seems to be the subsequent resurrection appearance
that Christ has made.
We noted in the morning that John didn't include
every resurrection appearance,
but when we consider all that we have,
it seems like this is the next appearance of Christ.
But there is a focus here in this appearance.
There is a significance in this appearance
because it is focused on one man, Thomas.
And this appearance tells us that Thomas was not present with them
on the first day of the week with the rest of the disciples.
Why we're not sure?
I wish we did know.
It would fill out the story for us with more detail.
But we don't know.
Thomas wasn't there.
Thomas missed out on the appearance of Jesus Christ.
And I'm sure that's a feeling that we can all relate to,
that we've missed out on something.
There's surely some point in our lives
where we've missed out on something
that we really wanted to see.
And it can be made all the worse
by our friends and our families
telling us how amazing it was,
how inspiring it was,
how special it was
to see this thing take place.
I suppose in many ways it's been lost
with the advances in technology.
Things can be captured in video.
Things can be photographed.
You can re-watch TV programs you've missed.
You can see goals that you've missed.
You can see pictures of the northern lights that you missed.
In fact, it's swung so far now
that technology has advanced.
When you see these things,
you're not actually sure if it's true now
because they can be recreated and edited in such a way.
And I believe that if there was that sort of evidence of Jesus
in his resurrected state,
I don't think it would help us much.
There would still be doubted.
There would still be people sceptical of it.
And you can have these moments replayed.
You can have these photos to re-look at.
But it doesn't quite capture
what people call the magic of the moment.
You feel it like you've missed out
by not being there.
And it leaves you saying,
I wish I had been there.
I wish I had seen it.
I wish I had that experience
that my friends and family are telling me about it.
And I believe Thomas would have been saying
the exact same words.
I wish I had seen the Lord.
I wish I had seen him appear.
All his friends as the ten disciples were telling him,
we have seen the Lord.
Jesus is alive.
But it doesn't quite capture the magic of the moment for him.
He doesn't believe them fully.
And you know yourself
that when we experience something in our lives,
it's not quite the same
as someone telling us about it.
Now there are many people in this building,
there are many believers in this world
that have had amazing experiences
where the Lord Jesus has revealed himself to them.
And they want to tell people about it.
It's a natural thing for you to tell someone
about something spectacular that has happened in your life.
Something unbelievable.
You want to tell them about it.
You want them to believe.
You wish that they would have experienced it as well.
But it's often true
that when the believer tries to express
their new understanding of who Jesus Christ is,
that Jesus has revealed himself to them,
when they tell their testimony
about why they believe in Jesus Christ,
doesn't quite have the same impact on people.
They can tell it with passion.
They can tell it with excitement.
They just...
Something just doesn't click.
Just don't get it.
The disciples here are telling Thomas,
we've seen the Lord.
He's alive.
But it doesn't have an effect until he experiences it himself.
We can be told something a hundred times over.
It doesn't quite hit home until we experience it.
And you hear people who have recently been converted
echo something like,
why did no one tell me?
And it's like, we did.
We did tell you.
It just...
You didn't get it.
It just didn't...
Your eyes hadn't been opened to understand.
You didn't see Jesus fully when I spoke.
Jesus had to reveal himself to you.
And we can have doubts.
We can feel like we've missed out on things.
And I believe there are many of us here
who are just like Thomas,
who see what the Christian has.
And they say in the secrecy of their own hearts,
I wish I had what they have.
I wish I could say the same thing
that the believer says.
I wish the Lord would show himself to me
so that I could say to everyone,
I am a Christian.
So that I could have the assurance
to give my life to Jesus Christ.
But I just don't have it.
I hope as we continue looking through
the resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ.
And as we turn to Thomas,
the man that doubted,
I hope that we will get to see Jesus,
that he will reveal himself to us,
that he would displace all our doubts,
that we would not miss out on Christ.
And as we look at Thomas,
I firstly want to consider
Thomas and his doubt.
Thomas has become known as Doubting Thomas.
It may not be the most fairest name to give him.
I don't know if we can build
a true character of Thomas
by what we have from him in Scripture.
We don't have a lot about him in Scripture.
There's a few occurrences where he appears.
He actually appeared in the first reading that we had.
Jesus is there.
He hears about Lazarus having died,
well, having been ill.
He waits two days.
He knows that Lazarus has died.
He says,
we must return to Judea.
We must return because
I will give him life.
And the disciples are going,
no, no, no, hold on.
You can't go there.
The Jews are ready to kill you.
They're going to stone you.
Why are we going to go there?
Jesus says,
we must go.
The disciples see a problem with it.
Jesus' account there is that
Jesus tells him plainly,
Lazarus has died.
And for your sake,
I am glad that I was not there
so that you may believe.
Let us go to him.
And then Thomas comes in
and he says to his disciples,
let us also go
that we may die with him.
Thomas is ready to die with Christ.
He's ready to go with Christ,
whatever it means.
And he encourages all the other disciples
to be of the same mind.
But obviously,
obviously highlights a zeal
and a passion within Thomas
to do what is right,
to go with Jesus
and to follow him wherever he goes.
To encourage his friends
to come as well.
But when the rubber hit the road
and Jesus is captured,
the threat of death comes to them.
When Jesus has been taken
to be crucified,
they're nowhere to be seen.
They're displaced.
They're dispersed.
The only other time we come across Thomas
is actually in the chapter
that we read in the morning as well,
in John 14,
though we didn't read this part.
Thomas said to Jesus
when he says that,
I am the way,
the truth,
and the life.
When he says that,
I have gone to prepare
a place for you.
Thomas asks,
how do we know
where you are going?
How can we know the way?
Thomas wants to be with Jesus.
Thomas wants to know
where Jesus is going.
And although we look at these
few comments that we have,
we can say,
well,
there's a bit of doubt
in his comments.
He's doubting that,
he's not saying that
Jesus will resurrect Lazarus.
He's questioning
where Jesus is going
and how can we know the way.
It's more pessimistic
than doubtful.
There's a negative
sort of outlook
in his life.
But he's seeking an answer.
He's asking,
how can we know the way?
Where are you going?
Are you leaving us?
It's hard to form
a true character of Thomas
to say for sure
that we can call him
doubting Thomas.
But it is worth noting
that Thomas was not
the only doubter
in the Gospels.
You go to Luke's Gospel
and you read the account
where Mary returns
saying,
I have seen
the risen Lord Jesus.
She says these things
to the apostles
and Luke's Gospel
tells us
that all the apostles
thought
what she said
was an idle tale.
A story that was
made up.
And it says
that they did
not believe him.
Luke goes on
to say that
when they did
see Jesus,
the disciples
disbelieved for joy
and were marvelling.
They disbelieved.
They couldn't believe
that Jesus
was actually alive.
They couldn't believe it.
They were marvelling
that Jesus
appeared before them
in his resurrected body.
So you can see,
well,
the disciples
had doubts.
Thomas
had doubts.
And it is true
surely that
we have our
doubts as well
in our experience.
we question
the resurrected
Lord Jesus.
It's hard
to grasp.
It's difficult
to understand.
Thomas
couldn't believe it.
And he said,
unless I see
his hands,
the mark of his nails,
I put my finger
into these marks,
place my hand
in his side,
I will never
believe.
John's gospel,
it's largely
based on signs
of Jesus Christ.
But it's wrong
to ask
Jesus Christ
and to
place our salvation
on a sign
that we request
of him.
because it's not
signs,
really.
We see this
account of Thomas.
Jesus stands
before him.
He asks him
to put his hand
into his scars,
but I don't think
he did.
It doesn't quite
tell us if he did
or not.
Seeing was enough
for Thomas.
And to see
Jesus Christ
is enough
for us too.
We ask
for signs.
Sometimes
the Lord
can use signs.
And sometimes
the Lord
will answer
our requests.
But
it's not
a good way,
I don't think.
It's not
a way
in which
we should
be seeking
the Lord Jesus.
We should
be seeking
to see
him.
Seeking
that he
would reveal
himself to
us in
his way,
in his
timing.
But anyway,
we're in the
locked room
with the
disciples here.
Eight days
later.
And that
period carries
some significance
about this
so-called
doubter.
He wasn't
there for
the first
revealing.
And I'm
sure he
heard about
it straight
away.
That first
day,
Jesus was
there in
the morning,
Jesus was
there in
the afternoon
with the
two on
the road
to the
mails.
Jesus
appeared to
the
disciples
at night.
And I
believe when
he heard
all of
these
accounts,
he
wouldn't
dare
depart
from being
with the
people.
You can
imagine him
waiting the
next day.
Comes and
goes.
Nothing
happens.
Third day,
nothing.
Fourth day,
nothing.
Fifth,
sixth,
nothing.
Seventh,
nothing.
But what
he did
do was
he remained
with the
people.
He remained
with the
disciples.
He remained
with the
early church,
expecting to
see Jesus,
that Jesus
would reveal
himself to
him,
faithfully,
holding on,
expecting to
see Jesus.
and he
missed out,
yes,
in the
first place.
But he
came back
to where
Jesus had
revealed
himself to
the people.
And that
is true
of all of
everyone that
is here
today.
If you
want to
see Jesus,
if you
feel like
you've
missed out
on what
the Christian
has,
if you
wanted to
believe,
come to
where the
Lord Jesus
reveals himself
to his
people,
come to
the gathering
of the
church,
to the
believers.
This is
the place
where he
pours out
his blessings
upon the
people.
And it
is often
the place
where he
has awakened
many souls
that have
been in
darkness.
Many of
you here
who are
believers
will have
memories
of sitting
in pews
and being
awakened
by the
reading of
scripture,
feeling
condemned
by the
words that
were preached,
feeling the
psalms
speaking to
you as
they were
sung.
This is a
place where
Jesus meets
with his
people.
If we
isolate
ourselves
from the
church,
we cannot
expect that
Jesus will
reveal himself
to us.
And I
believe that
if we are
duly diligent
in attending
the means
of grace
and gathering
with the
Lord's
people,
he will
reveal
himself to
us.
But it
is true
that the
believer can
also have
many doubts
as well.
We can
doubt whether
he loves
us, we
can doubt
at times
whether we
are truly
saved, and
the devil
will play
havoc with
your doubts.
But you
know that we
are really
filled with
doubts when
we look at
ourselves.
There is
nothing within
us that
deserves
salvation.
There is
nothing within
us that
deserves the
redeeming power
of Jesus
Christ in
our lives.
We look
inwardly and
we plague
ourselves
with
doubts.
It is
said that
never doubt
in the dark
what God
told you
in the
light.
Never doubt
in the dark
what God
told you
in the
light.
What God
says to
you in
scripture,
we can
go away
with it
and we
can doubt
it.
when we
are isolated
from it.
When we
are in
the dark
we can
doubt
these
things.
We must
come back
to Christ.
We must
change our
vision from
looking at
ourselves when
we are
doubting to
looking at
the Lord
Jesus Christ.
As we
are saying
to the
children to
keep our
eye on
him, to
keep our
eye on
the word.
And if
we do
that we
will be
delivered from
doubts.
We will
look at
the love
of Christ.
we will
look at
his
compassion.
We will
look at
his death.
We will
look at
his eternal
promises to
his people
and it
will give
us a
hope.
To
displace
the doubt
the believer
must turn
from looking
at himself
and focus
upon the
Lord Jesus
and his
love for
them.
We find
here that
we can be
plagued with
doubts.
But also
there is a
deliverance
from these
doubts.
We have
doubts but
there is a
deliverance.
The radical
difference in
this man's
life is the
appearance of
Christ again.
Every
appearance of
Christ has
made a
radical difference
of those who
witnessed him.
And he
comes into
this room
and he
says,
peace be
with you.
Jesus
speaks
addressing
Thomas
in the
words that
he spoke
to his
disciples.
meaning that
Christ
hears
every word
that we
utter.
He did
not have to
be physically
present to
hear the
doubts of
Thomas.
He heard
them.
And when he
appeared he
addressed Thomas
personally.
said he
needed to
put his
fingers into
the scars
of Jesus'
hands which
would have
been more
so his
wrists.
then he
says to
touch him.
But we
don't know
if he
did or
not.
But Jesus
adds there
do not
disbelieve
but believe.
And we
can struggle
to believe
at times.
The
resurrection
is hard
to grasp.
The
disciples
struggle to
understand it.
We
struggle to
understand it.
But we
look at the
evidence that
we have
here.
We look at
the gospel
that John
has written
here.
And we
come to
it again.
The purpose
was that we
would believe.
We have
seen lives
radically
changed by
the appearance
of Christ.
And he
wishes, he
prays, he
writes that
you too
would believe
that when
you come and
consider the
resurrected Lord
Jesus Christ
he would
reveal himself
to you.
The
resurrection
appearance as we
said motivated
them like
nothing else
could have.
It was the
match to
the fire
that ignited
their hearts
for the
Lord Jesus,
ignited them
to turn the
world upside
down.
They went
out with
their own
testimony.
We have
seen the
Lord Jesus.
Thomas could
say the
same thing
in his life.
I have
seen the
Lord Jesus.
and he
declared it
amongst the
people.
He had
his doubts.
He was
delivered when
he saw
Jesus Christ
but he
went out
declaring
what he
had seen.
When you
see Jesus,
when Jesus
reveals himself
to you,
it changes
everything.
Thomas here
had his
own
declaration.
He says
there,
my Lord
and my
God
in verse
28.
A
personal
declaration
that Jesus
Christ is
his Lord
and his
God.
In many
ways it
is so
personal
that Jesus
speaks
directly
into
his
circumstance,
directly
to his
heart,
to his
need,
and yet
it is so
public.
Because he
has been
transformed.
He has
a new
testimony
to speak
about.
Something
exceptional
has happened
in his
life.
And he
wants to
tell people
about it.
He has
to tell
people
about it.
Jesus
Christ is
my Lord
and my
God.
And that
phrase
highlights
the divine
deity
of Jesus
Christ.
The
title
of God
his
Lord.
And
Jesus
receives
it
because
it is
right.
If it
was wrong
Jesus
would have
said
do not
worship
me.
with such
words.
But
Thomas
is
entirely
right.
And
Jesus
receives
that
declaration
from
Thomas.
The
change
that
Christ
brings
to us
is
personal
and
public.
God
will
God
will
speak.
He
speaks
to the
depths
of
our
needs.
Yet
we
cannot
but
speak
about it.
We
wish that
others
would
likewise
know
who
Jesus
Christ
is
and
the
change
that
he
has
made
in
their
lives.
It's a
true
feeling
that we
too
can't
doubt.
Thomas
was set
never
to believe.
That's what his words
unless he had
seen him
himself
which adds
a huge
credibility
to the
fact that
Jesus
appeared
to him.
the
one
that
said
never
turns
around
and
says
my
Lord
and
my
God.
Thomas'
experience
delivered him
from all
doubts
and I
pray that
the Lord
Jesus
would
reveal
himself
to
you
in
scripture
in
his
word
in
the
singing
of
his
psalms
in
the
proclamation
of
his
word
whether
it's
in
three
days
time
and
eight
days
time
and
three
years
time
and
eight
years
times
do
not
disbelieve
that he
can do
it.
Believe
in the
Lord
Jesus
Christ.
Believe
that he
will reveal
himself
to you.
Do
not
doubt
the
resurrection.
Thomas
went on
with his
declaration
and
tradition
suggests
that
Thomas
travelled
as far
as
India
with
the
gospel
where
it
is
reported
that
he
was
martyred
with
a
spear
killed
by
someone
with
a
spear.
With
the
assurance
of
Christ's
resurrection
in
his
life
he
went
out
declaring
the
wonderful
gospel
of
Jesus.
and
his
earlier
declaration
where
he
said
to
his
disciples
let
us
go
so
that
we
may
die
with
him
became
a
truthful
reality
in
his
life.
He
put
his
life
on
his
line
this
time.
He
didn't
run
away.
He
put
his
life
on
his
line
on
the
line
because
he
had
absolutely
no
doubts
that
Jesus
was
alive.
Thomas
makes a
declaration
but there
is another
declaration
made here
in this
passage.
The
risen
Lord
Jesus
pronounces
a
blessing
upon
everyone
who
believes
in
Jesus
Christ
without
having
to see
him.
And it
is a
blessing
because
it was
the
Lord
delights
to see
men,
women,
boys and
girls
turning
to the
Lord
Jesus
and
trusting
in
the
resurrected
Lord.
Believing
what the
gospel of
John
has written
about
him.
With
the result
is
that you
may have
life
in his
name.
God
yes
doubting
Thomas
is a
lesson
to each
of us
to
faithfully
trust in
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
but it's
maybe
significant
that it
follows
after what
we
consider
in the
morning.
Jesus
came to
them
with
a
work
he was
handing
over his
work
to them
and it's
funny
that they're
still in
the locked
room
at this
point.
Eight days
later they
haven't
moved
even after
Jesus
came with
his peace
his purpose
and his
power to
them.
I think
the disciples
see themselves
in Thomas.
they haven't
moved from
where they
have been
after Jesus
has said
to them
I'm
sending
you.
Are they
doubting
that they
are able
to do
the work
and continue
the work
that Jesus
has asked
of them
that we
considered
in the
morning?
It's
hard to
see
but I
think
there's
a measure
of
something
there
a lesson
for the
disciples
also
not to
doubt
believe
what the
Lord Jesus
has said
to them
that he
has sent
them
and that
he has
sent them
with a
helper
to go
with them
into this
world.
So what
about us
tonight?
What about
each or
one of
us
tonight?
Do we
feel like
we've
missed out
on the
proclamation
of the
gospel?
Do we
feel like
we've
missed out
on seeing
Jesus?
Well if
we do
come to
where he
reveals himself
with the
people and
keep coming
faithfully.
Do not
disbelieve.
Believe that
he will
show himself
to you
and I
believe that
he will
if you
do it
with
diligence
and a
heart that
is seeking
and longing
to know
him.
What will
you be
declaring
for all
eternity?
Yes we
have doubts.
Jesus
promises to
deliver us
but what
will be
our
declaration?
Will it
be my
Lord and
my God?
will it
be I
wish I
had
received
what the
Christian
has.
I wish
I had
joined
with the
people of
God.
I wish
I had
received
his blessing.
I pray
that we
have
understanding
of these
things
and that
he would
help us
in our
doubts
and help
us in
our
disbelief.
I pray
these
thoughts
blessed
to each
of us.
We'll
conclude by
singing in
Psalm 133
in the
Scottish
Psalter
version
that you'll
find on
page
424.
Psalm
133
you'll
find out
on page
424
of the
blue
praise
book.
A
psalm
that
speaks
about
the
blessing
of the
Lord
pouring
down
upon
the
people
as they
gather
together.
The
Lord's
people,
the
brethren,
behold
how good
a thing
it is
and how
becoming
well.
Together
such as
brethren
are in
unity
to dwell.
Like
precious
ointment
on the
head
that down
the beard
did flow,
even
Aaron's
beard
and to
the
skirts
did
off his
garments
go,
as
Herman's
Jew,
the Jew
that
doth
on Zion
hill
descends,
for
there
the
blessing
God
commands,
life
that
shall
never
end.
We'll
stand to
sing
these
words
to
God's
praise,
behold
how
good
thing
it is
and
how
becoming
well.
Behold
how
good
a
thing
is
and
how
become
we
well
he
joy
Like precious ointment on the head, that devil here did go.
He made us dear and to the stars, give up his charred soul.
How terrible to the dew that dove, on side of hills we sang.
For there the blessing of all man, my path shall never end.
We conclude with prayer.
Our Lord and our God, we pray that we would keep our focus on you.
That we would not be distracted by the doubts of our hearts.
That you would help us in our doubts and unbelief.
And that we would see the risen Lord Jesus.
That you would reveal yourself to us.
And that we may proclaim, my Lord and my God.
Be with us as we part.
Watch over us in the wake ahead.
Go before us, we pray.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.