DRAWING NEAR
MAY 21
Beyond Doubt to Hope
The twelve apostles included "Thomas" (Matt. 10:3).
When Jesus was crucified, Thomas was shattered. He loved Jesus deeply
and wanted always to be with Him. He was willing even to die with
Him, but now his greatest fear had been realized: Jesus was gone.
Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them
after His resurrection. John 20:25 says, "The other disciples
therefore were saying to [Thomas], 'We have seen the Lord!' But he
said to them, 'Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the
nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand
into His side, I will not believe." Thomas was emotionally spent and
unwilling to subject himself to any further pain. So he retreated
behind a wall of empiricism, saying in effect, "I'm not going to
believe this on your word alone. I need proof! I must see Jesus
myself."
Because of that, people have labeled him "Doubting Thomas," but
remember, none of the disciples believed the resurrection until Jesus
appeared to them. Thomas wasn't a compulsive doubter--he was a loving
pessimist.
As it turned out, Thomas didn't need as much proof as he thought.
When Jesus finally appeared to him and invited him to touch His hands
and side, Thomas didn't do either. Instead he immediately cried out,
"My Lord and my God!" (v. 28)--which is the greatest single
confession of faith ever made.
Thomas struggled with doubt because he didn't understand what Jesus
said about His own death and resurrection, and he wasn't with the
other disciples when Jesus first appeared to them. He failed to
understand God's Word and forsook the company of believers--two
common mistakes that can lead to doubt.
Jesus doesn't condemn you when you have doubts. Instead, He gives you
His Spirit, His Word, and the fellowship of His people to encourage
and strengthen you. So commune with the Spirit in prayer, know the
Word well, and never forsake the fellowship of believers. That's how
to change your doubts into hope!
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the presence of His Spirit, the power of His word, and
the fellowship of His people.
For Further Study:
Read Luke 24:13-35.
Why didn't the two disciples recognize Jesus? How did Jesus
change their doubts to hope?
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Luke 24:13-35
13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village
called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself
drew near and went with them.
16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17 And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you
have with one another as you walk and are sad?"
18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him,
"Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the
things which happened there in these days?"
19 And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The
things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed
and word before God and all the people,
20 "and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be
condemned to death, and crucified Him.
21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem
Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these
things happened.
22 "Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb
early, astonished us.
23 "When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had
also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
24 "And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found
it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."
25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to
believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26 "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter
into His glory?"
27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them
in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He
indicated that He would have gone farther.
29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is
toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay
with them.
30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He
took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished
from their sight.
32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us
while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the
Scriptures to us?"
33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and
found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"
35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and
how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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