Hoping to be brief this morning, I want us to focus on that disciple we know as Doubting Thomas. This poor man has taken plenty of heat and unwarranted criticism over the years from preachers. We may rightly assume that Thomas did not have the natural optimism that others have, but I’m not prepared to label the entirety of his persona as that of a doubter. This man was a cautious believer, at times a skeptic, but he was also one that was looking for reasons and even evidence to help believe more deeply upon the Savior whom he loved. Today, I want to look at something Thomas said in John 11:16
“So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” {ESV}
The opposition against Jesus Christ was reaching a fever pitch in Jerusalem. The disicples knew that the religious leaders were looking for an opportunity to kill Jesus and they were reluctant to affirm His desire to go back to Judea to minister to the family of Lazarus who had recently died. Their gentle protest reminded Jesus that, should he approach Jerusalem, there would likely be trouble. Unwilling to operate in the fear of man, Jesus told the disciples that He was resolved to go in spite of the threats of those who wanted Him dead. It was in this moment where Thomas (the doubter?) declared to all the other disciples that they should go also and die by the side of their Savior. Thomas would rather have died alongside of Christ than to play it safe and miss the pathway that the Lord had chosen.
In Thomas’ words I find a challenge for you and me to let our lesser kingdoms crumble. Contrary to much modern teaching, Jesus does not always lead us into prosperity and ease. Sometimes when we follow Him we have to make a decision about which kingdom owns our allegiance. Our tiny kingdoms are subtly built for our own private thrones. Our benefits, our glory, our reward, our reign…this is the manner in which most people live. Unfortunately, it is possible for you and me to also live this way in spite of the fact that we are Christians. God, in His mercy to us, sometimes orchestrates a crossroads wherein you have to choose your kingdom. Play it safe and preserve your well being…or go with Jesus into the heart and heat of the battle and potentially lose your personal kingdom. Which are you choosing today?
Thomas serves as a great example to abandon life’s lesser offers and fully commit to following Christ. It is not likely that you will need to physically die as a result of your commitment. It is absolutely certain that you will experience a different sort of death. You will die to you. All the things that our selfish hearts crave will need to be crucified unto us and us unto them. I’m not going to list out all of these things but you who are indwelt by God the Spirit will know immediately what are the rivals in your life for your loyalty. Thomas teaches me to walk away from those things and follow Jesus wherever He chooses. There is a definite price to be paid for those of us who choose this path. Face it like Dogmatic Thomas and commit to the fullest extreme.
Watching a lesser kingdom crumble sounds frightening because, for some, it is all they know. For people like Thomas, watching the lesser kingdom crumble was the key to his commitment to Christ. If you could ask him today, there would be no doubts that he chose wisely.