"I come from a state that raises corn and cotton, cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me.

Rep. Willard Duncan Vandiver

I'm from Missouri, and you have got to show me."Rep. Willard

Duncan Vandiver

Jesus and Thomas

The “Show Me”

Disciple

First Point

A General Profile of Thomas

Tolerant Thomas

2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (Mt. 10)

Thomas the Realist

John 11

16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Curious Thomas

John 144 And you know the way to where I am going.”  5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Second Point

A Clearer Picture of Thomas

John 2019 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 

20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

John 20

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

John 20

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 

John 20

23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

John 20

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 

John 20

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “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.” (Jn. 20)

Tricky Math

What day???

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of …the week

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 

John 20

Luke 2433 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

Jesus and the Ten

•He shows them his wounded hands and side. (Jn. 20:20)•He commissions them. (Jn. 20:21)•Little Pentecost. (John 20:22)•Authority to forgive sins. (John 20:23)

Doubting Thomas

The Buckner Effect

John 2026 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.”

John 2027 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.”

Proclaiming Thomas

John 20

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 

John 20

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”