Believing Thomas | John
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- Опубліковано 16 кві 2023
- Thomas is often labelled the ‘doubting’ disciple, but Prof. Wright reinterprets John 20 to see Thomas as a model of very real faith, with consequences for all of our evangelism. Jesus’s action in this passage point to a God who meets us where we are, and respects our belief, however it comes about. Thomas is, after all, the first person in John’s Gospel to call Jesus God…
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"My Lord and my God!" Sometimes the deepest faith is found in someone who became cynical but is able to believe once more. Thomas felt the holes in Jesus' hands and placed his hand deep in his side. Who else got closer to the Risen Christ?
There's a wonderful active belief and faith here in the simple act of reaching out.
It is profound that a Jewish Thomas who knew the Torah acknowledged JESUS as my Lord & my GOD. It denounces every other argument that try to assail the faith of the Trinity. Here, Thomas reveals Jesus as fully God and fully man. The Word of God that became flesh.
A beautiful circle a coming together of the beginning meeting the end of the book of John. Beautifully brought to light.
I find it fascinating that some refer to Thomas as “Doubting Thomas.” He was curiously bold enough to express his desire to want to believe. The others were SO mired in doubt they either didn’t recognize him or locked themselves behind closed doors. We don’t know if others said anything similar to Thomas, it’s not recorded. But, I love that this video is titled “Believing Thomas.” Because he wanted to believe and was bold enough to announce his desire to believe.
What’s resonating with me is the grace Jesus had with Thomas to entertain his questions instead of dismissing him. I’m appreciative of that. Blessed be to you, Jesus my Lord, my God.
It's wonderful, isn't it? Thomas' deepest heart longings are the very thing that Jesus fulfills.
Amennnn
N.T Wright has one of the best British accent I’ve ever heard I could listen to them all day.
We agree! Hope you're enjoying the content as well!
@@NTWrightOnline Love it. Top tier scholarship, I I plan on Reading the resurrection of the son of God this summer.
Most extraordinary, all Glory to God. Thank you Mr. Wright. Profound that Jesus didn’t enter in through a door after His resurrection, unlike Lazarus who was resurrected from the dead would need to enter through the door.
Indeed, Jesus himself is the door!
I have never looked at Thomas being a "bookend" to the beginning of the Gospel of John. And comparing Lazurus resurrection to Jesus is stunning. I hav always said that Thomas took Jesus' death the hardest out of all the male disciples. He didn't want his hopes to be dashed again and Jesus came and comforted him. Such a beautiful lesson!
i thank God for Thomas. He is the 'proof' we need in this time.
What blesses me most about Thomas is his willingness to confront this most unusual opportunity. We are especially told to test the spirits. There are many antichrists out and about. His question was spoken, but it was the same question the others had, but they hadn’t spoken. His question confirms our doubts. Thank you, Thomas. Thank you, Dr. Wright.
Thank you so much for your very clear and wonderful reminder of the Fathers grace and will in His Son for each of us. Wonderful challenge as we step out into every new day. PTL’U😊😊😊😊
Amen! Thank you for this wonderful explanation, prof. Wright. New insight for me on the Resurrection of Jesus, through death, not "just human" again. And of course, so comforting and inspirational for my faith. As the song Jesus Christ the apple tree, says- He (Jesus) keeps my dying faith alive.
I was glad to understand more about the story of Thomas and Jesus's response,
Thank you for this teaching and showing Thomas in a new light. I have found so much of Modern American Christianity to be a man-made religion of either following Apollos or Paul.
Thank you…to not worry about death.
Thank you, and Amen.
What is the best explanation for non trinitrians that Thomas was speaking directly to Jesus only within sharps rule being implied here
My Vicar Max Scott here in Hamilton, NZ last Sunday 16th April. Added NT Wright's commentary on "Jesus Resurrection" which led me to listen to your devotions Vicar NT Wright !!
And be truly blessed by new fresh reflections !!
▪︎Hallelujah !! 💓🦋⚘
Our sermon Sunday in my Anglican church here in America used the SAME story ... but he chose the topic of Doubt. His profound statement (like yours with "MY Lord and MY God" ) was that the opposite of faith isn't doubt. The opposite of faith is un faithfulness. So he hit topics to help us in moments of doubt. YOUR presentation helped me understand another point of the same scripture.
I do SO enjoy our Mondays with you Mr Wright. Your amazing insight is so like my late British husband. Thank you. ❤️ ❤
THANK YOU! So beautifully said. ♥♥♥🙏🙏
It seems significant to me that Thomas said he wouldn't believe unless he touched Jesus, but then the text never says that he did touch him after Jesus offered this... And Jesus' responds saying "Do you believe now that you have *seen*?" Not touched. I'm not sure but it feels like this is significant. Thomas said he needed to touch Jesus but really all he needed was to see him. Perhaps worth meditating on.
I think Thomas said, he wouldn't believe until he sees the wounds and puts his fingers into His Side. Having seen the nail prints, he didn't need to put his fingers in Jesus' side. I guess that's where the adage, "Seeing is believing" comes from.
We had a sermon on Sunday which, alongside this video, has made me look at Thomas differently. He was the only one brave enough to be outside the locked room on that first visit. He was the one bold enough to voice his doubts, which too many Christians keep inside, and he was the one who asked the question that was holding him back and who, when face to face with Jesus, made that incredible declaration.
As you say, too many times we are told to not ask the awkward questions, but that is how we learn. Maybe being British, we are too reserved? We should have the courage of Thomas and ask the awkward questions or reservations we have because that is how we get closer to Jesus, our Lord and our God.
Thank you for your observations and teachings which are always enlightening and I pray that God will help you to live with the recent diagnosis and continue your ministry, which is greatly valued. God bless you.
It is encouraging to read of Thomas' honesty, isn't it? His story of confusion and doubt were transformed into a declaration of Jesus' divinity! His journey of faith continues to encourage us all.
I think Thomas is misnamed by Calling him Doubting Thomas. He gives me hope that even in my struggling I too can listen and respond to God’s prompting.
Exactly! We can struggle and be faithful at the same time.
Do you think when He broke the bread in half and passed it out that these men saw the wounds in His hands and recognized Him by His wounds?
That could be--or, perhaps the healed wounds!
I grew up in the East African Catholic and then Protestant traditions. In both however, a character of Thomas has always been an undesirable one. Often regarded as a doubtful one.... Even my first language, Kiswahili adopted Thomas in a rather informal adjective "Tomaso" for a "doubtful" person...
I wish it were possible to follow Thomas' life after this event. Was his affirmation a night time flash of lightning after which the darkness returned, or was it the dawn of a new day for him? Too often, in my view, we push people to a moment of decision and then leave them there thinking the job is done. Here in America at least we've become so individualistic that we give little or no thought to the community into which we are saved. We shop for churches like we shop for shoes, moving from one to another until we find the "perfect fit".
Good questions. Perhaps Thomas's experience might have included a bit of both?
Correction about book mentioned below Resurrection reconsidered : Thomas and John in controversy 5 September, 2023 10 October, 2023 Riley, Gregory J. Not very convincing but a bit of a worry.
Thanks for your explanation. However, I am concerned about the references to Jesus’ body. I think I’m right in saying that , elsewhere, you have talked of Jesus having resurrection body , ie that in his resurrection his body was different. Of course , there are also incidents in which Jesus simply vanishes or appears in an instant. Yet here, in John 20, his wounds are still visible and, presumably, touchable. Then again, Jesus is obviously recognisable to the disciples and, therefore, is at the same age as when he died. What does this say about us and our resurrection ‘bodies’. I was in discussion yesterday with a retired missionary for whom these matters are clearly troublesome. I couldn’t answer him. What would you say?
It's difficult to speak with certainty about what our resurrection bodies will be like, but perhaps our healed wounds and scars will be fully redeemed (yet somehow not erased?)
Jesus' body was transformed by the resurrection. His wounds were visible and probably touchable but he was able to live having presumably having had a spear in his heart, and could walk on the road to Emmaus in spite of the wounds in his feet.
I really like this but have been somewhat disturbed by Reilly's book (2011) which alleges that this was as story made up as part of a controversy with so-called "thomas Christians". Did they exist? Obviously Thomas would have preached the gospel and I am prepared to believe he founded a church in Syria and there is a remote possibility he went to India but I would imagine he taught the same things as the other apostles. found Reilly's book unconvincing because he says this proves that and it doesn't. e.g. the allegation above but still it leaves niggling doubts.
You have to understand that in the Bible the word for God is "Elohim" and means "Mighty ones" Now in today's modern language we have restricted the word "God" to mean the "almighty" basically the creator, but that was NOT so in the Bible days !
And I will show you. For example did you know that people, kings and judges in the Bible were CALLED Gods ?
To illustrate, Psalms 82 says: (now this is God speaking)
1 God takes his place in the divine assembly;
In the middle of the gods* he judges:
And Vs 6
“I have said, ‘You are gods,
All of you are sons of the Most High.
Wow, did you notice how even Jehovah calls them "Gods" and HE says "I have said "You are Gods" ......so the question is HOW were they Gods ? And when you have come up with the answer to that, then you will answered the question "How can Jesus be a God " !
Did you know Moses too was called "God" so was not that polytheism ?
So if God can give the title of God to angles and people then WHY can't he give the same title to his son?
You cannot allow the restrictive use of the word "God" in today's modern English language to restrict the way the term was used in Bible times !