#7 (The 12 Disciples
Series)
“THOMAS -- THE PESSIMIST!”
TEXTS: John
11:11-16; 14:1-6; 20:24-29
INTRO: The story
is told about two boys, one was an optimist and the other was a pessimist. The two boys were taken to two rooms and
left there for a little while. The
pessimist was taken to a room that was filled with wonderful new toys. The optimist was taken to a room that
contained only a few items, a shovel for hay, a pile of horse manure, and a hay
bail. After some time the men went
back to see how the boys were doing.
To their surprise they found the pessimist in the room with all the toys
just sitting in the corner, he hadn't even touched a toy! When asked why the boy said, "I just knew if I played with a toy it would
break so I didn't touch anything!"
Curious now about the other boy they went to his room and to their
surprise when they opened the door they found a huge hole with dirt being
pitched out at a frenzied rate!
They looked down into the hole and the boy was using the pitch fork to
dig a hole; they asked him why he was doing this and this was his reply, "I saw the manure and the hay in here so I
figured somewhere in here there has got to be a
horse!"
The way we look at things often affects
greatly our responses in life and our attitudes. In many ways it affects the quality of
our life and whether we are stifled or growing. Thomas was the group pessimist ... but
Jesus loved him and helped him to grow beyond his negative
perspective.
PROP SENT: The Bible teaches
us that God loves us as we are, even when we tend to have a pessimistic heart.
He will work in our lives to
develop us into more positive saints!
I. NEGATIVE & COMMITTED! Jn.
11:11-16
A. Perceptions 11:11-15
1. Jesus had deliberately withheld
going to
a. The disciples probably perceived
this as a sign that Lazarus must not be all that sick or Jesus would have
certainly rushed to his side!
b. Therefore when Jesus told them it
was now time to go to "wake him up" their perception of this was that
Lazarus was o.k., that he had only been sleeping.
2. They were probably concerned
however about Jesus going back to Bethany since He had created quite a stir
there earlier; the authorities had tried to capture Jesus to kill
him!
a. Thus going back so soon would
surely put Jesus at risk for capture and death, and any disciple caught with him
would likely face the same thing!
b. NOTICE VERSE 8!
"But
Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you
are going back there?"
3. They probably assumed that if
Lazarus was “sleeping” now that his fever had broken and he
would be o.k. so why go back and risk arrest and death over a simple
fever?
a. Thus Jesus has to be clear: “So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is
dead,”
b. Now they must have been shocked
that Jesus had delayed His going if this was the case, but Jesus explains the
reason for His waiting: “and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you
may believe. But let us go to
him.”
c. It was for their sake that Jesus
had waited, and for the sake of others who would witness the power of His
authority over death.
4. How different each disciple reacted
to the news that they were going back to a hostile area, even in the same church
family we will all react differently to the same
thing.
ILLUS: LIKE ONE
PARENT DESCRIBING HER 3 CHILDREN, EACH OF THEM SAW A SPIDER WEB IN THEIR GARDEN
AND EACH ONE REACTED DIFFERENTLY THOUGH FROM THE SAME FAMILY. HER FIRST CHILD EXAMINED THE WEB AND
WONDERED HOW A SPIDER COULD DO SOMETHING SO COMPLICATED LIKE THAT. HER SECOND CHILD SAW THE WEB AND WANTED
TO KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T SEE THE SPIDER? WHERE IS ITS MOM? THE THIRD EXCLAIMED, "OH LOOK, A SMALL
TRAMPOLINE!" THERE WAS ONLY ONE
SPIDER WEB BUT IT WAS VIEWED BY THE SAME FAMILY MEMBERS IN MANY DIFFERENT
WAYS! – SOURCE UNKNOWN
5. I’m sure the reaction to return to
a hostile environment was questioned.
a. “Do you think this is a good idea with the
hostile climate right now?”
b. “I'm sure Mary and Martha will understand if
we don't make it!”
c. “If Lazarus is already dead anyways why go
back and have twelve more funerals to deal with, namely
us!”
d. “I liked the guy too Jesus, but I know
Lazarus wouldn't want us to jeopardize our lives if he could talk
now.”
B. Pessimistic
11:16
1. Thomas is singled out here in his
response, and it clearly shows him as a pessimist, but it also shows his
commitment to Jesus! “Then Thomas
(called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may
die with him.’”
a. Not all pessimists in the church
are sloppy in their commitment to God; they may just be negative in their
perspectives but deeply committed to God!
b. Notice Thomas’ response to going
back when it was likely he would be arrested and tried and executed: "Let us also go, that we may die with
him." 11:16b. He was fully
committed to going back if that was what Jesus wanted to do, even when he
thought it meant certain death! I
would call that commitment!
2. What a cheery disciple Thomas
was!!
3. He is speaking to the whole group,
his plan – "let's go with Jesus and plan to die
also!"
a. You have to admire the commitment
this reflects!
b. Although the attitude is one of
expecting the worse – a pessimist!
4. Sometimes you encounter Christians
like this, every plan the church proposes will meet with disaster in their
minds, they always expect the worst!
a. It'll fail or there's not enough
money or everyone will quit after it starts, no one will do the work, we tried
it before and it didn't work then … but hey let’s try and it fail anyways,
etc. They may even volunteer to be
involved after expressing their viewpoint that it won’t work! They are committed
complainers!
b. There just are some people who have
a hard time seeing the positive or good in anything!
ILLUS: LIKE TWO
BUDDIES, ONE AN OPTIMIST, THE OTHER A PESSIMIST. THE OPTIMIST ASKED HIS FRIEND, “ISN'T
THIS A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY?" THE
PESSIMIST REPLIED, "YES, BUT IF THIS HEAT DOESN'T STOP SOON, ALL THE GRASS WILL
DRY UP." TWO DAYS LATER THE
OPTIMIST SAID TO THE PESSIMIST, "ISN'T THIS RAIN WONDERFUL?" THE PESSIMIST REPLIED, "YES, BUT IF IT
DOESN'T STOP RAINING SOON, MY GARDEN WILL WASH AWAY!" THE NEXT DAY THE OPTIMIST INVITED HIS
PESSIMISTIC FRIEND TO GO DUCK HUNTING WITH HIM. THE OPTIMIST WANTED TO SHOW OFF HIS NEW
REGISTERED HUNTING DOG THAT COULD DO THINGS NO OTHER DOG COULD. THE PESSIMIST LOOKED AT HIS DOG AND
DECLARED, "LOOKS LIKE A MUTT TO ME!"
JUST THEN A FLOCK OF DUCKS FLEW OVER AND THE OPTIMIST SHOT ONE AND IT
FELL INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE.
HE SNAPPED HIS FINGERS AND HIS NEW DOG RAN AFTER THE DUCK, RUNNING ON TOP
OF THE WATER ALL THE WAY OUT AND ALL THE WAY BACK! THE OPTIMIST THOUGHT THAT NOW SURELY HIS
PESSIMISTIC FRIEND WOULD BE IMPRESSED, AND SO HE ASKED AS HE PULLED THE DUCK OUT
OF HIS DOG'S MOUTH, "WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MY DOG NOW?" THE PESSIMIST REPLIED, “DUMB DOG, CAN'T
EVEN SWIM RIGHT!” – SOURCE UNKNOWN
5. Thomas was just one of those
disciples that assumed the worse in most situations – you will see this again
after Jesus’ resurrection!
a. This probably meant he was moody
and isolated himself at times, we will find this true in the last passage we
study.
b. At this time Jesus says nothing to
Thomas about correcting his response, time will bring maturity and later the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit will help him also!
II. NO COMPREHENSION 14:1-6
A. Promises! 14:1-4
1. Jesus on this occasion is consoling
His disciples, giving them promises they can bank on to encourage
them!
a. He is assuring them of the future,
something uncertain for most people.
b. He wants them to know that they
will be well taken care of, that He is making plans for their following Him to
heaven one day!
c. How wonderful to be assured of the
rich promises of God!
2. The disciples of Jesus need to know
God's promises, especially when we are going through tough
times!
3. God's Word contains many promises
for His children; promises of protection, help, guidance, and safety – and a
glorious future!
4. Like many Christians today, those
promises did not seem to make much of an impact on the disciples, they didn't
seem to catch the importance of what Jesus was saying.
ILLUS: LIKE THE
GREAT CHIEF OF THE BLACKFOOT INDIANS YEARS AGO, THE CHIEF WAS PRESENTED BY THE
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILROAD PERMISSION TO RIDE ANY OF ITS TRAINS FOR A LIFETIME AT
NO COST IF THEY COULD PASS OVER INDIAN LAND. THE CROWFOOT CHIEF GAVE PERMISSION FOR
THE RR TO GO THROUGH THEIR LAND AND WAS PRESENTED WITH A LIFETIME PASS. HE PUT IT IN A LEATHER CASE WHICH HE
WORE AROUND HIS NECK FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, BUT NEVER ONCE DID HE USE
IT! LIKE HIM, MANY CHRISTIANS CARRY
SCRIPTURE CARDS AROUND WITH THE PROMISES OF GOD ON – THEY MEMORIZE THEM BUT THEY
NEVER LIVE AS THOUGH THEY ARE TRUE!
THEY NEVER USE THEM! – SOURCE
UNKNOWN
B. Protest!
14:5-6
1. Thomas' response indicates his
usual pessimistic response: "Lord, we don't know where you are going,
so how can we know the way?"
14:5
a. Thomas' first reaction to the good
news of Jesus' promise to prepare a place for them and to come and get them one
day was negative and cynical – that pessimist personality showed up
again!
b. Instead of joy for the promises of
God Thomas only sees problems!
2. Jesus had already stated before
Thomas' protest, "You know the way to the place where I am
going." 14:4b
a. Thomas doesn't seem to know that
Jesus meant He was going to heaven!
b. What was Jesus' mission all about,
how could Thomas not know?
3. All this time with
Jesus and all the talk about the kingdom of God and Jesus being the way to
heaven and still Thomas poutingly states, "how can we know
the way, we don't even know where you are
going?"
a. Maybe he had a bad hair day or
something!
b. Perhaps he was just in one of his
usual pessimistic moods!
c. After all, this occasion was full
of anxiety, things were getting bad, Jesus had already had His last supper with
them and the pressure was on from the authorities.
d. Thomas may have been bummed out by
the way things were going, from bad to worse, certainly nothing good is coming
may have been his thoughts!
4. At least he is honest about how he
is feeling!
a. His negative slant blocked his
comprehension about what Jesus was doing – this is often true with pessimistic
saints.
b. He couldn't see
straight!
ILLUS: LIKE THE
MAN WHO HIRED A GUIDE TO TAKE HIM ACROSS A VAST DESERT AREA. WHEN THE TWO MEN ARRIVED AT THE EDGE OF
THE DESERT THE TRAVELER LOOKED AHEAD AND SAW BEFORE HIM TRACKLESS SAND IN EVERY
DIRECTION! NO FOOTPRINTS OR ROADS
OR PATHS COULD BE SEEN ANYWHERE!
TURNING TO HIS GUIDE HE ASKED, "WHERE IS THE ROAD OR PATH? THERE IS NOTHING THERE FOR US TO
FOLLOW!" THE GUIDE REPLIED,
"CERTAINLY THERE IS, I AM THE ROAD, I KNOW THIS DESERT, FOLLOW ME AND YOU WILL
BE ALRIGHT!" – SOURCE UNKNOWN
5. Jesus explains this to his
disciples, including Thomas – He is the way! The way is taken care of Thomas, don't
fret or be frustrated!
III. NEEDLESS COMPLAINT 20:24-29
A. Pouting!
20:24-25
1. Following Jesus resurrection when
the disciples were hiding in fear Jesus made an appearance to encourage them,
only one disciple from the eleven is missing on this first appearance, guess
who?
THOMAS!
a. He may have been alone pouting,
especially after reading his next statements when he is with them and they
share how they had seen Jesus alive!
Thomas quickly states that he will not believe until he can touch Jesus
himself!
b. He wouldn't accept the word of his
best friends, an indication of doubt and being a
pessimist!
c. He may have been mad that Jesus
made an appearance to them, though it was his own fault for not being with the
guys!
2. Thomas is emphatic about not
believing, he felt cheated, Jesus had died and this was not his idea of a new
kingdom, now they were all bad guys in everyone else's eyes. Jesus supposedly appeared to everyone
except him of course!
a. Thomas saw only what Thomas wanted
to see!! He wasn’t optimistic about
anything at this point and didn’t believe anything he couldn’t touch for
himself!
b. Some Christians are like this
too!
c. Thomas’ absence during that first
appearance of Jesus may have had a lot to do with his
pessimism.
ILLUS: IF I WOULD
SAY THE WORD "BLUE" YOU WOULD BEGIN TO THINK BLUE, YOU WOULD SUDDENLY NOTICE
BLUE THINGS AROUND YOU – BLUE WOULD STICK OUT SUDDENLY IN YOUR NOTICE WHERE YOU
MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT BLUE THINGS JUST A MINUTE AGO. WHEN PEOPLE GET "BLUE" THIS IS WHAT
HAPPENS TO THEM TOO, THEY SEE EVERYTHING "BLUE" AROUND THEM, EVERYTHING IS
TAINTED AS BEING BAD OR AGAINST THEM. – SOURCE UNKNOWN
3. Thomas was still pessimistic
Thomas, “God
reveals Himself to everyone else except me!!!” So he won't be persuaded to believe
until he himself touches Jesus and has proof
firsthand!
a. If this isn't being pessimistic I
don't know what is!
b. This is a sad state to exist in,
pessimistic people can be miserable.
B. Positive!
20:26-29
1. It is interesting that Jesus
waits another week before showing up in Thomas'
presence!!
a. Jesus didn't just jump to satisfy
Thomas' doubting; perhaps the Lord wanted Thomas to grow up a little
bit!
b. To constantly jump every time
Thomas whined around would only have encouraged more of
it!
c. Jesus
waited on purpose here, just like He did after Lazarus death! Making an important point at the next
appearance was quite clearly intended by Jesus just for Thomas's sake; Jesus
addressed Thomas personally immediately at the next
appearance!
2. Jesus' wait of a week was probably
meant to help Thomas work through his negative and pessimistic
nature.
a. He rejected his best friends’
testimony, not a good example of friendship on Thomas'
part!
b. This waiting period must have
been agony, but it was necessary for what Thomas needed in his life, to
become more positive!
c. Sometimes God uses struggles to
force us to grow up, to learn something new, to teach us how to walk by faith;
you can't walk by faith if it is never tested!
3. Struggles many times are God's way
of saying He loves us, not the opposite! Struggles build character, they teach
us to trust God, to believe He is good even when the evidence doesn't exist at
the moment to see that, etc.
ILLUS: A MAN FOUND
A COCOON OF THE EMPEROR MOTH AND TOOK IT HOME TO WATCH IT EMERGE. ONE DAY HE NOTICED MOVEMENT AND SAW A
SMALL HOLE BEING MADE BY THE MOTH INSIDE.
FOR SEVERAL HOURS THE MOTH STRUGGLE TO GET THROUGH THE TINY HOLE IT HAD
MADE, A HOLE MUCH SMALLER THAN WAS NEEDED TO GET OUT EASILY. THE MOTH COULDN'T SEEM TO MAKE MUCH
PROGRESS GETTING THROUGH THE TINY OPENING SO THE MAN DECIDED TO HELP IT BY
CUTTING THE HOLE LARGER FOR THE MOTH. SURE ENOUGH, THE MOTH NOW EMERGED
EASILY. THE MAN WATCHED FOR SOME
TIME LONGER WAITING FOR IT TO FLY AWAY, BUT SOMETHING SEEMED WRONG WITH ITS
WINGS, THEY WERE SHRIVELED AND NEVER FLATTENED OUT, IT WAS HOPELESS! EVEN AFTER A LONG TIME THE MOTH COULD NOT
FLY, AND SO IT DIED. ONLY LATER DID
THE MAN DISCOVER THAT THE MOTH IS SUPPOSE TO STRUGGLE THROUGH AN OPENING TOO
SMALL FOR ITS BODY, BY DOING THIS IT SQUEEZES FLUIDS FROM ITS BODY INTO THE
WINGS THUS INFLATING THEM TO THE PROPER FLAT LEVEL, THE STRUGGLE WAS EXACTLY
WHAT THE MOTH NEEDED TO HAVE ITS WINGS BE RIGHT FOR FLIGHT! THE MAN HAD SENTENCED THE MOTH TO
DEPENDENCE BY DENYING HIM THE STRUGGLE, SO IT COULD NEVER FLY! HE HURT IT AND NOT HELPED
IT! – SOURCE UNKNOWN
4. Jesus must have known that extra
week of waiting would be good for Thomas!
a. Sure enough, when Jesus comes into
the room a week later His attention immediately goes to Thomas with an
invitation to go ahead and touch Jesus’ body for
proof!
b. What a testimony of Jesus' patience
with Thomas, yet He did make him wait a week, He also knows Thomas' struggle
with doubt; the invitation was clear: "...stop doubting
and believe!" 20:27b
5. Thomas' response is very
interesting for it does not say he touched Jesus, he simply blurted out, "My Lord and My
God!"
20:28
a. Thomas woke up quickly, he's come
around again!
b. Like the others, the Baptism of the
Holy Spirit on Pentecost seem to have altered his negativism and pessimism, we
have no other examples of Thomas being negative or pessimistic after this event,
he finally becomes a positive saint!
6. Jesus adds a final BEATITUDE
HERE: "BLESSED ARE
THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET HAVE
BELIEVED!"
a. The term "BLESSED" means "HAPPY" – the idea being that
those who can believe without requiring proof experience a joy or happiness that
is sometimes lost to those who are more pessimistic and require proof before
believing!
b. However, one can always
change, just like Thomas; Jesus is always in the process or strengthening us
where we are weakest! It is
possible to move from being a pessimist to being an optimist, Thomas did it, so
can disciples today.
7. At no point did Jesus get rid of
Thomas the pessimist, He just kept working with him, developing and stretching
him as they went along – Jesus loves the Christian pessimist just as much as He
does the Christian optimist, so should we!
He is in the business of changing us from being a pessimist to an
optimist!
CONCLUSION: Thomas struggled with being a
pessimist, often it brought him pain – and certainly lots of doubt, but the Lord
loved him and continued to help him grow.
Like many of us Thomas was a mix of good and bad qualities, though
negative in his perceptions, he always stayed committed to Christ. What he missed along the way as a
pessimist however was the joy and confidence of his faith, but he did make
progress and grow into a positive disciple! Therefore, there is hope for the worst
pessimist among us!