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Good For You? | Is Christianity Irrational

April 7, 2024
John 20:24-31

²⁴Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So 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.” ²⁶Eight 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.” ²⁷Then 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.” ²⁸Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” ³⁰Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

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Purpose

To discover and experience Jesus Christ in our midst

To cultivate mutually encouraging relationships

To participate in God’s mission to the world 

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of a godly life: Give us grace that we may always thankfully receive the inestimable benefit of his sacrifice, and also daily endeavor to follow in the blessed steps of his most holy life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forevermore. Amen..

Responsive Prayer—Psalm 16

I have set the Lord always before me;

Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

My flesh also dwells secure.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

Or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;

At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Summary and Connection

One of the hallmarks of a postmodern society is the general disregard towards authority and institutions that claim to promote ‘exclusive truth’. We live in a culture where absolute truth claims are rejected on the very basis of their exclusivity. In our culture, truth is relativized by being reduced to the realm of subjective. Thus, it becomes immensely vital for us to understand that in order to demonstrate the truth of Christianity, we have to show that it is good and beautiful. To not only appeal to the intellect, but also to the heart. This Spring we are engaging in a new sermon series titled Good For You? In this series we will be exploring common contemporary challenges to the Christian faith in order to show that the Christian faith is good both for you and for the world.

For this week’s discussion we turn to John 20:24-31 in order to answer the question Is Christianity Irrational? In this passage we see Jesus appear, for the second time, in front of his disciples. This time around Jesus’ focus is on one particular disciple who was not present during his first appearance (John 20:19-23). The ecstatic disciples announce the good news of Jesus’ bodily resurrection to Thomas. But notice Thomas’ response in verse 25. On a plain reading, Thomas’ response might come across as a person seeking signs or evidence to believe the legitimacy of the event, in this case, resurrection. However, according to several commentators, that is not the case with Thomas. Thomas is not seeking the sign to believe, but he is refusing to believe the very possibility of resurrection, despite the fact that his fellow disciples are claiming to have seen the risen Lord Jesus. In other words, Thomas’ belief is not contingent on eye witness evidence, but on personal inspection where Jesus is considered suspect until proven innocent. 

This passage raises some important questions about the essence of Christian faith. Notice, Jesus’ words to Thomas. Jesus doesn’t chastise Thomas for his disbelief. Jesus is fully aware of human finitude and our tendency to unbelief. Jesus welcomes Thomas to examine his wounds, and urges him to believe, even if it means he has to undergo full inspection. Thomas responds with a famous confession, “My Lord, and my God.” Thomas, in a matter of eight days, had gone from a skeptic to a true believer who rightly identified the deity of Christ. Jesus’ words to Thomas in verse 29 shows us the truest essence of Christian faith: “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John further confirms this in his epilogue (20:31).

One of the distinctive features of the Protestant Reformation is the emphasis on the saving faith. John Calvin recognized three essential components of the saving faith: notitia (content/object), assensus (assent), and fiducia (trust). Christian faith always has an object: Jesus. We know Jesus as he is presented in the pages of Scripture. However, just knowledge isn’t sufficient for salvation. We must affirm the truth of the content. Millions of people know about Jesus, yet they’re not saved. Saving faith requires assent — a conviction that the object of faith is the truth. Thirdly, knowing and believing the truth isn’t sufficient without fully placing our trust in the person and work of Jesus. True faith is transferring our trust from self to Jesus, and that is the work of the Spirit. This passage shows us that Christianity isn’t irrational, however, Christian faith is more than just rational. Faith is the instrumental cause of our justification through which we lay hold of Jesus’ perfect righteousness in order to be justified by God.

Discussion Questions

1. Looking at the Bible

Observation: Read the passage privately. What does the text say? What according to you is the theme of this passage? Do you notice keywords, parallels, or surprises?

• Why does Thomas doubt the eye witness evidence of his fellow disciples? Why did he demand for personal inspection to believe the legitimacy of the resurrection?

2. Looking at Jesus

At Central we believe that all of Scripture points to Jesus. In other words, Jesus is the theological center of the Bible. Every passage not only points to Jesus, but the grand narrative of the Bible also finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus.

• What does it mean for you to put your faith in Jesus Christ? How does your faith in Jesus influence the spheres of your life like relationships, work, and money?

3. Looking at Our Hearts

• It is true that as Christians we all have a tendency to lack faith, and lose our assurance of salvation. What undergirds your tendency to unbelief: is it lack of evidence to believe or outright rejection of the possibility of God’s goodness and intervention in your circumstances? Discuss.
• Read the last paragraph of summary and connection and discuss the three components of the saving faith.

4. Looking at Our World

• How might this passage challenge you to live out your faith in a culture that disregards the Christian faith claims?

Sending

• View Study Guide Notes

  Question 1: As mentioned in the summary and connection, on a plain reading, Thomas’ response might come across as a person seeking signs or evidence to believe the legitimacy of the event, in this case, resurrection. However, according to several commentators, that is not the case with Thomas. Thomas is not seeking the sign to believe, but he is refusing to believe the very possibility of resurrection, despite the fact that his fellow disciples are claiming to have seen the risen Lord Jesus. In other words, Thomas’ belief is not contingent on eye witness evidence, but on personal inspection where Jesus is considered suspect until proven innocent. 

  Thomas was a skeptic by nature. John gives us a glimpse of his personality in 11:16, and 14:5. Thomas was not seeking a supernatural miracle to prove the legitimacy of resurrection, but he was outrightly rejecting the possibility of resurrection. The very possibility of a bodily resurrection was utterly irrational for Thomas. Notice Jesus’ response in verse 27-28. Jesus addresses the heart of the issue with Thomas: unbelief. Yet, he doesn’t condemn Thomas for his unbelief. This should come across as relief to some of us who are prone to doubt and unbelief. Jesus allows him to inspect, and urges him to believe. And Thomas does believe, and we see his faith shine through in his emphatic confession: “My Lord, and my God!”

  Question 2: This is a personal application question.

  Question 3: These are personal application questions. 

  Question 4: This is a personal application question.