Synopsis of Sermon 4.27.25

Delivered by Keion Henderson

John 20:24-27 (NKJV)

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

I.               Introduction

1. Every asked what the Lord was doing, after shouting at church? Ever got in the parking lot and still had questions?
2. Few are bold enough to admit it, but the truth is, they have a Sunday shout with a Monday mindset. You can’t cover it up.
3. All of us are saints with sinner problems. We are declaring in the sanctuary, but doubting in the living room.
   1. We all have a church persona, but we have a constant battle with flesh.
4. When asked which disciple we are most like, we like to say Peter. The truth is, most of us don’t have the courage of Peter.
   1. We are really more like Thomas. We are in between “almost” and “not yet”. It is the Post Easter mindset.
5. Thomas missed one service and came back doubting what everyone else shouted about. He was not there, when Jesus appeared the first time.
   1. How many of you have asked God to do something and He hasn’t delivered on it yet? Thomas said unless he could see the nail prints for himself, he would not believe. In other words, he wanted receipts.
6. There were some people in the room. They defined it as a manufactured moment.
7. Jesus had gotten out of the grave, just like He said he would but we have questions of how it all came together.
   1. How did the government believe Jesus wasn’t the Messiah, but yet they put a stone in front of grave?   
   1. This shows that your enemies believe in you more than your friends do.
8. Peter cuts the ear off of a Roman Soldier, when they came to get Jesus. Jesus puts it back on and tells Peter, “Get behind me satan!”. He told Judas to do what he had to do and to do it quickly . Peter was about to mess up the assignment. Jesus was not supposed to die in the garden.
   1. This is doubt that leads to faith. No matter who you are, you’ve had some questions for God.
   1. All of us have had a praise on our lips and a doubt at the same time.
9. When we ask questions of God, He reveals himself. There is a difference between asking God a question and questioning him.
10. God doesn’t just meet us at celebrations; he meets us at questions. He doesn’t just meet at the time of hype. Sometimes He meets us in our wounds.

II.               The absence of Thomas

1. The twins were not with them. The Bible says that Thomas was one of the twins and he was not with them. The Bible really doesn’t reveal who the other twin is. One Theologian said that the word twin used here is not a reflection of another person, but instead an admission of another personality.
   1. Just like the person that praises in church and then gets outside and finds that their car has been dented. They become another person!
2. Thomas has a split personality. The problem with having a split personality is, you think you always have company. You think you have talked to someone about your situation, and you have only talked to yourself.
   1. When you feel you have company and don’t, this leads you into isolation.
   1. Any decision you make without company is just an opinion and not based on facts.
3. Scripture says that Thomas told the disciples, “Unless I see it for myself, I won’t believe”. Jesus shows up and says tells Thomas to look at his scars.
   1. The Bible says Thomas was one of the twelve, even though he missed the meeting. Thomas wasn’t mentioned anymore after the meeting. This implies that Jesus would rather you be absence than to be present doubting.
   1. Absence doesn’t mean you won’t be counted. Although he wasn’t present when Jesus showed up at first, he was still one of the twelve.

III.               The assurance of Jesus

1. Thomas said he wouldn’t believe it, unless he saw the scars for himself. This was his stubbornness.
   1. Thomas said he needed to see marks. In this, Thomas isn’t saying that he is struggling to believe. He is saying without seeing the scars, it is impossible to believe. This is why Jesus gives scars. It helps with our belief.
2. God took us through it and left evidence so we wouldn’t be so full of ourselves. This is why your sinuses flare up, when you get dust inside your nose. We are just dirt, and we can’t be too full of ourselves. God resists the proud!
   1. No matter what we think about ourselves, we’re still dirt!
3. Sometimes pain is the prelude to power. Bishop Walker or any Pastor for that matter, wouldn’t be who they are, if they hadn’t gone through what they’ve gone though.
   1. Just because you love your Pastor, doesn’t mean that the devil does.
   1. There is no glory without struggle and misery. There is a story behind every glory!

IV.               The appeal of touch

1. Most people are high off of smoke they didn’t inhale. Some people shouted just because the person next to them shouted.
2. Thomas said don’t just show him the crown, show him the cross.
   1. Most young people can’t be reached, because we won’t show them our scars. We want them to think we have always been where we are now.
   1. We sterilize our testimony. We want people to believe we were always where we are now.
   1. Jesus showed Thomas His scars. Be proud of the vulnerability as well as the victory!
3. Glory looks better when it’s got blood on it. Anointing without suffering is an illusion.
   1. Sometimes the proof you need is the struggle, not the strength.
4. Jesus shows Thomas his scars. Jesus customized his arrival for the one who doubted. Jesus showed up again, just to show Thomas his scars.
   1. God will customize his arrival in a way that makes you believe.
   1. It’s much like Jesus saying to you, “How do you want your steak?” He’s willing to customize His arrival so that we believe.
5. Sometimes we miss God’s arrival, because it doesn’t come the way we expected it to.
   1. Remember the disciples thought Jesus was a ghost, when He was walking on the water, coming to meet them.
   1. God says grace is about to circle back around. He’s come back to see about you!

V.               The appeal of touch

1. God gives us an example of greatness and we often miss it, by sitting in the car. Proof of Jesus’ power is, God exalted him, but yet we can still touch him.
   1. Jesus was God, but He still walked amongst the people.
2. Some of us have gotten too blessed to be touched.
   1. For example: We used to shake hands when we were ministers. Now that we are Pastor or Bishop, we don’t allow people to get to close to us.
3. When Jesus was resurrected, He didn’t take away the wounds. If He can reverse death, then you know that He can reverse the scars.
   1. Jesus left the scars there as a reminder for us.
4. After it was all over, Thomas finally declares, “That’s my Lord”. The biggest doubters are ok, if they become the biggest shouters! Some things have to come out with a shout!
5. Shout it out!!