Sermon Tone Analysis

*These Things Are Written*

* *

*John 20:24-31 (ESV)*

*24* Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

*25* So 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.”

*26* Eight 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.” *27* Then 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.”

*28* Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” *29* Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

*30* Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; *31* but 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.

*Introduction*

 

Warning signs.

We see them just about everywhere.

When we go to a pool there are signs warning us about what activity we should or should not do around the pool.

When we drive there are signs warning us about hazardous conditions or safe speed limits.

There are environmental signs that inform us of something that is perhaps unsafe and some action we ought to take.

For instance, Gena and I went to Myrtle Beach on vacation this past June and we saw one such sign.

While walking on the beach, we came up on an advisory sign near a stream that was flowing out into the ocean.

I can’t remember exactly what the sign said, but it basically said that swimming in or near the stream after a heavy rain should be avoided.

What I didn’t know at the time was that water in streams such as this can be unsafe, particular after a heavy rain.

Myrtle Beach has a voluntary beach water monitoring program, and during the summer months, the surf is regularly tested.

If unacceptable levels of bacteria are detected, the area affected is posted with an advisory.

The possibility of pollutants in ocean water is greatest after a heavy rain, when runoff from lawns and streets can contain fertilizer, pesticides, and trash.

Swimming in such contaminated water may cause minor illnesses and should be avoided.

Of course, some will *choose* to ignore the warning and swim in contaminated water anyway, and as a result, possibly get sick.

But the advisory is there.

The *purpose* of the advisory sign Gena and I saw, and other similar signs, was to inform people of a hazard and consequently result in people remaining safe.

Our passage this morning says something similar.

I mean, it doesn’t warn us about unsafe water, but it does say to us the purpose of certain things that are written in the Bible, particularly in the book of John.

John tells us why he wrote this book, particularly why he wrote about Jesus’ resurrection.

But, before we get too much farther into this, let’s first look at what’s going on during this event that John has recorded for us.

(God spoke it and John wrote it)

\\ *Context*

 

Jesus’ resurrection had just occurred.

Some of his followers (Peter, John, and Mary) had gone to Jesus’ tomb and had seen that he was no longer there.

Later, the disciples were locked in a room, all except for Thomas.

Thomas was not with them.

The disciples were locked in that room for fear of the Jews who might have sought to kill them as well.

Then, while they were locked in the room, Jesus appeared to them.

At first, they thought they were seeing a ghost, but Jesus then showed them the scars on his hands and on his side, to show them that he was not a ghost but had truly been raised from the dead.

John tells us that the disciples were /then/ glad when they saw the Lord.

The disciples told Thomas about the Lord appearing to them, because remember, he was not with the disciples at that time.

Scripture does not tell us where he was or why he was not with the other disciples.

However, Thomas did not believe them.

Thus, Thomas says, “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.”

Some translations may say, “I will not believe”, but the negative here is *emphatic*.

Thomas is saying that unless he gets this proof, he will *never* believe what the other disciples are telling him.

Thomas required proof.

He was not going to believe what the other disciples were saying, because let’s face it; their message about Jesus’ resurrection was incredible.

If we were Thomas, would we have responded any differently?

Perhaps not!

But Thomas was a little different, right?

Thomas walked with Jesus.

He followed Him.

He heard and saw many of the things which Jesus said and did.

Shouldn’t Thomas have believed that Jesus would rise from the grave, just as the disciples were telling him?

Well, it is easy perhaps, for us to say these things.

Before we are too hard on Thomas for his lack of faith, we ought to remember this is the same Thomas that when the disciples told Jesus to not go to Lazarus because there were Jews there seeking to kill him, Thomas says, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

So, while Thomas for some reason did not believe Jesus had been resurrected, he was willing at one point to die with him.

When Jesus comes the second time, Thomas of course is there, and Jesus meets Thomas’ skepticism with an immediate and direct response.

Jesus said, “Put your finger here and see my hands, reach out your hand and put it in my side.”

Then Jesus tells him, “Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

So, this brings us to the main point of today’s message.

I said all of this to tell you *three* things:

#. *The Medium by which God reveals the Gospel is His written Word*

#. *The Purpose of God’s written Word is for us to believe that Jesus is the Savior and the Son of God*

*3.      **The Result of Belief is True Life*

* *

*Point 1 – The Medium - The Written Word*

First, there is the written Word of God.

We call this Scripture, or sacred writings, or the Bible.

Thomas and the other disciples who walked with Jesus had the unique and awesome opportunity to walk and talk with the living God, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We don’t have the same opportunity to see and speak to Jesus as the disciples did.

But we do have something that is intended to produce the same result as being in that locked room with the resurrected Jesus.

God inspired John, and the other writers of the Bible, to records certain events, and according to John, these things were written that you might believe.

John is saying to his readers, that the reason he wrote his account of the life of Jesus, was that people might believe.

Scripture is not just a bunch of rules, of “Thou Shalls” and “Thou Shall Nots.”

While obeying God’s Word is important and profitable to us, it is for our own good, Scripture has the purpose of drawing unbelievers into fellowship with God.

With the assistance of the Holy Spirit, Scripture turns unbelief into belief.

Think about it.

Why is the Bible so important?

Or should I ask, is it important?

What makes Scripture important to you?

I hope you can say that is draws you closer to the living God.

What we read about Scripture is that it has the words of life.

When some Jews were seeking to kill Jesus because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God, Jesus told them this:

*John 5:39-40 (ESV)* *39* You *search the Scriptures* because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, *40* yet you refuse to come to me that you may have *life*.

\\ Scripture is important.

It is in the Bible that we read about God’s plan of salvation, where we read about our Lord and Savior Jesus, and it is in Scripture where we read the words of life.

The Bible is extremely important, not just for unbelievers, but also for believers.

*2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ESV)* *14* But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it *15* and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, *which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus*.

*16* All Scripture is breathed out by God [*inspired*] and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, *17* that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Scripture is important for believers and unbelievers.

Scripture is how God communicates to us.

Now, let’s talk about belief.

* *

*Point 2 – The Purpose – Belief in Jesus as Christ and Son of God*

\\ God inspired men to write Scripture to reveal those things He wanted us to know about Him.

But, according to John, the passage we just read, what is the purpose of Scripture?

\\ \\

John stated that he wrote his account of the Gospel so that we would believe that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God.

Not many people who know about Jesus claim that he was fictional.