Doubt Defeated (April 12, 2026)

Today is the Sunday after Easter and boy what a week this has been.

Today is the Sunday after Easter and passage tells us about an event that took place the Sunday after the first Easter, a story about doubting Thomas. Even those who are unfamiliar with the Bible knows about the story of doubting Thomas; but this Sunday does not end with a doubting Thomas, it ends with a believing Thomas!

Thomas had not been with the disciples when Jesus first appeared to them. Like so many today, he staunchly refused to believe that Jesus had actually risen from the dead. The disciples testified and bore witness to the glorious truth that Jesus is ALIVE! We see in verse 25, the disciples are talking about “We have see the Lord.” We are understand this is probably not the first time Thomas has heard this story. He has probably heard it several dozen times at this point. Thomas has become stiffnecked and obstinate in his unbelief. He even argued against their testimony and he argued with deep intensity. He was deeply aggravated and frustrated, feeling great disappointment and guilt. The depth of his aggravation and guilt is seen in his repulsive shout, “Unless I see the mark of the nails and place my finger in the mark and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

What was it that frustrated Thomas so much and caused him to sense such intense guilt and react the way he did? Evidently ...

•     Thomas had forsaken the Lord and that was enough to frustrate any man’s spirit

•     Thomas had also withdrawn from the disciples; consequently, he was not present when the Lord first appeared

Thomas reacted like so many reacted even today, He became critical of the body of believers; however, it was his own fault, but as human nature so often reacts, he blamed others through his aggravated spirit. He argued against their experience with the resurrected Lord. Having taken all he could bear, in utter frustration he shouted out … “I will never believe.” unless I do this.

Guilt, frustration, disappointment, and exclusion often result in a ...

•     haughty spirit

•     reaction

•     denial of facts

•     fierce outburst

As we are looking at doubting Thomas this morning, there are TWO questions I want us to consider:

•     As a Christian, what can I do about people who doubt Jesus?

•     As a doubter, where is the evidence?

As we move into the next few verses, we find the disciples inside a locked room and “Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’”

Jesus has appeared and challenged and convicted Thomas. We must stop and realize something at this very point. Doubt in God, doubt in Jesus is a sin, no question about it. However, Jesus did not condemn Thomas, Jesus brought conviction to Thomas, there is a difference!

Suddenly, unexpectedly, without notice, Jesus in in the midst of the disciples, inside of a locked room and eases their shock by giving them the normal greeting “Peace be unto you.” But notice what Jesus does immediately, He turns to confront Thomas.

Jesus revealed that He knew all about Thomas’ unbelief and demands. He used the very same words that Thomas had demanded: "Put your finger here and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve but believe.”

Jesus knows every man’s heart: his despair, doubts, fears, hope, love. He knows where and when to strike at a man’s heart. However, note a crucial factor: Thomas was where Jesus could reach him. He was in the presence of believers listening to their testimony. He had not shut them out despite his questions.

The fact we all need to understand at this point is this, Thomas was walking down a dangerous road. The other disciples had been witnessing to him time and time again, but he had refused time and time again to accept their warning and testimony. When we start doubting God and God’s servants, we start running the risk of becoming faithless and unbelieving, beyond the point of believing. It is easy to say I have faith, it is easy to say I believe, but are you putting that faith and belief into action prior to seeing? We don’t need to take our unbelief too far; it is time to stop the foolishness. We have been told time and time again of the goodness and mercy of God, we have been told the truth, it is time to stop running, it is time to stop being stiff-necked, obstinate unbelief. It is time to put our faith and our belief in God into action and begin to TRUST IN GOD!!!

Thomas has a strong confession. This is one of the great confessions in Scripture. Thomas more than likely dropping to his knees, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord, My God.” At this point, Thomas knew five great things:

•     That Jesus is truly the risen Lord. All that Jesus had said was true.

•     That Jesus is both Lord and God, the Sovereign majesty of the universe.

•     That Jesu is the One who has come to truly reveal God, that He is the Mediator between God and man.

•     That Jesus accepts no half-way commitments. Jesus expected to be his Lord and his God. Therefore, he must personally bow and worship Jesus as his Lord and his God.

•     That Jesus expects an open and public confession of His as Lord and God.

So, what is the great lesson for us this Sunday after Easter?

•     To believe without having to see evidence and proof.

•     To believe because of tenderness and warmth.

•     To believe because of love and care and because of the need and nature of the human heart.

•     To believe because of the need for morality and godly character.

•     To believe because godly witnesses say so.

•     To believe because of the inner witness of the heart.

•     To believe because of the outer witness of nature.

•     To believe and put that belief and faith into action!