Embracing Doubt: Christ's Love and Resurrection

 

Summary

In today's Easter service, we explored the profound love of Christ for those who struggle to believe. This is a common experience, not only in our time but also during the time of Jesus. The Gospels candidly record the doubts and struggles of the disciples, such as Thomas, who famously declared he would not believe unless he saw the evidence himself. This honesty in the Gospels underscores their authenticity and offers comfort to those who find themselves wrestling with faith.

We examined three primary reasons why people struggle to believe: the presence of indescribable evil in the world, massive personal disappointments, and growing isolation. These challenges are not new; they were present in the lives of the disciples and continue to affect us today. The resurrection of Jesus Christ, however, speaks directly to these struggles. It assures us that justice will ultimately prevail over evil, offers hope beyond our disappointments, and invites us into a community that transcends isolation.

The love of Christ is evident in how He approaches those who doubt. He does not condemn but instead offers peace and presents compelling evidence of His resurrection. For Thomas, this was a personal encounter with the risen Christ. For us, the compelling evidence is found in the Scriptures, which are written so that we may believe and have life in His name. The journey to faith involves a surprising experience of Christ's presence, the presentation of compelling evidence, and a life-changing command to believe.

Christ's pursuit of Thomas, despite his doubts, illustrates His relentless love and grace. Jesus desires us to be His disciples, regardless of our struggles with faith. He calls us to stop doubting and believe, offering us a reasoned trust based on the compelling evidence of His resurrection. This is not a blind leap in the dark but a faith grounded in the reality of the risen Savior. As we respond to His call, we are invited to join Thomas in declaring, "My Lord and my God."

Key Takeaways:

- The Struggle with Faith is Universal: Doubt and struggle with belief are not new phenomena. Even the disciples, who walked with Jesus, experienced doubt. This acknowledgment in the Gospels provides comfort and authenticity, reminding us that faith is a journey, not a destination. [00:46]

- The Resurrection Addresses Our Deepest Struggles: The resurrection of Jesus speaks directly to the challenges of indescribable evil, massive disappointment, and isolation. It assures us of ultimate justice, offers hope beyond our current circumstances, and invites us into a global community of believers. [10:21]

- Christ's Love for Doubters: Jesus approaches those who doubt with love and peace, not condemnation. He presents compelling evidence of His resurrection, inviting us to a reasoned trust in Him. This evidence is found in the Scriptures, which are written to lead us to faith. [16:29]

- Faith is a Reasoned Trust: Christian faith is not a blind leap but a reasoned trust in a risen Savior, based on compelling evidence. The Gospels provide this evidence, inviting us to believe and have life in His name. [20:14]

- The Call to Believe: Jesus calls us to move from doubt to belief, offering us His peace and inviting us to be His disciples. This call is an expression of His grace, as He desires us to follow Him despite our struggles and doubts. [23:38]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction: The Love of Christ
- [00:23] - Struggling to Believe
- [00:46] - Doubts in the Gospels
- [01:27] - Authenticity of the Gospels
- [02:36] - The Struggle of the Disciples
- [03:33] - The Story of Thomas
- [05:19] - Reasons for Struggling with Faith
- [06:06] - Indescribable Evil
- [07:18] - Massive Disappointment
- [08:30] - Growing Isolation
- [10:05] - Resurrection's Response to Struggles
- [13:41] - Christ's Love for Doubters
- [17:33] - Compelling Evidence
- [23:25] - Life-Changing Command to Believe
- [27:28] - Christ's Pursuit of Thomas
- [29:50] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 20:19-31
- Acts 17:31
- Romans 8:18

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Observation Questions:

1. What were the reactions of the disciples when they first saw the risen Jesus, according to John 20:19-31? How did Thomas's reaction differ from the others? [04:24]

2. In the sermon, what are the three primary reasons mentioned for why people struggle to believe? [05:19]

3. How does the sermon describe Jesus' approach to Thomas's doubts? What does this reveal about Jesus' character? [17:50]

4. What evidence does Jesus provide to Thomas to help him believe, and how does this relate to the evidence available to us today? [20:02]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the resurrection of Jesus address the problem of indescribable evil in the world, as discussed in the sermon? [10:21]

2. What does the sermon suggest about the role of community in overcoming isolation and doubt? How does this relate to Thomas's experience? [09:26]

3. How does the sermon explain the concept of "reasoned trust" in the context of Christian faith? What role does evidence play in this trust? [20:14]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' love and grace are evident in His interactions with those who doubt, like Thomas? [19:05]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you struggled with doubt or disbelief. How did you address these feelings, and what role did community play in your journey? [09:26]

2. The sermon mentions that Jesus offers peace to those who doubt. How can you seek and experience this peace in your current struggles or doubts? [16:17]

3. Consider the "compelling evidence" of faith mentioned in the sermon. What evidence has been most convincing or meaningful to you in your faith journey? [21:13]

4. How can the resurrection of Jesus provide hope and perspective in the face of personal disappointments or global injustices you see today? [12:21]

5. The sermon calls us to move from doubt to belief. What practical steps can you take this week to strengthen your faith and trust in Jesus? [23:38]

6. Think about someone in your life who may be struggling with faith. How can you support and encourage them, drawing from the love and approach of Jesus as described in the sermon? [13:41]

7. Reflect on the idea of Jesus pursuing us despite our doubts. How does this understanding of Jesus' love impact your relationship with Him and your willingness to follow His call? [27:28]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as a Journey, Not a Destination
Doubt and struggle with belief are universal experiences, not only in contemporary times but also during the time of Jesus. The Gospels openly record the doubts and struggles of the disciples, such as Thomas, who famously declared he would not believe unless he saw the evidence himself. This honesty in the Gospels underscores their authenticity and offers comfort to those who find themselves wrestling with faith. It reminds us that faith is a journey, not a destination, and that doubt is a natural part of that journey. The acknowledgment of doubt in the Gospels provides comfort and authenticity, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles. [00:46]

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you struggled with doubt in your faith journey. How can you embrace this struggle as a part of your journey rather than a failure?


Day 2: Resurrection's Assurance in Our Struggles
The resurrection of Jesus speaks directly to the challenges of indescribable evil, massive disappointment, and isolation. It assures us of ultimate justice, offers hope beyond our current circumstances, and invites us into a global community of believers. These challenges are not new; they were present in the lives of the disciples and continue to affect us today. The resurrection assures us that justice will ultimately prevail over evil, offers hope beyond our disappointments, and invites us into a community that transcends isolation. This assurance is a powerful reminder that we are not alone in our struggles and that there is hope beyond our current circumstances. [10:21]

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you find hope in the resurrection of Jesus when facing personal disappointments or feelings of isolation today?


Day 3: Christ's Compassionate Approach to Doubters
Jesus approaches those who doubt with love and peace, not condemnation. He presents compelling evidence of His resurrection, inviting us to a reasoned trust in Him. This evidence is found in the Scriptures, which are written to lead us to faith. Christ's love for doubters is evident in how He approaches them, offering peace and presenting compelling evidence of His resurrection. For Thomas, this was a personal encounter with the risen Christ. For us, the compelling evidence is found in the Scriptures, which are written so that we may believe and have life in His name. [16:29]

"Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." (Jude 1:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: How can you extend Christ's love and peace to someone in your life who is struggling with doubt today?


Day 4: Reasoned Trust in a Risen Savior
Christian faith is not a blind leap but a reasoned trust in a risen Savior, based on compelling evidence. The Gospels provide this evidence, inviting us to believe and have life in His name. This reasoned trust is not a blind leap in the dark but a faith grounded in the reality of the risen Savior. As we respond to His call, we are invited to join Thomas in declaring, "My Lord and my God." This invitation to a reasoned trust is a powerful reminder that our faith is grounded in the reality of the risen Savior. [20:14]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What evidence of Christ's resurrection can you reflect on today to strengthen your reasoned trust in Him?


Day 5: The Call to Move from Doubt to Belief
Jesus calls us to move from doubt to belief, offering us His peace and inviting us to be His disciples. This call is an expression of His grace, as He desires us to follow Him despite our struggles and doubts. Christ's pursuit of Thomas, despite his doubts, illustrates His relentless love and grace. Jesus desires us to be His disciples, regardless of our struggles with faith. He calls us to stop doubting and believe, offering us a reasoned trust based on the compelling evidence of His resurrection. This call to move from doubt to belief is a powerful reminder of Christ's relentless love and grace. [23:38]

"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'" (Mark 9:24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling with doubt? How can you respond to Jesus' call to move from doubt to belief in this area today?

Quotes


If you struggle to believe it may help you to know that that was also true of others even in the time of Jesus. In fact, all four of the gospel writers record the difficulty of faith that a number of people experienced. Matthew, for example, tells us in the last chapter of his gospel, the 11 disciples went to Galilee to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them, and when they saw him they worshipped him but Matthew says some doubt it. [00:44:33]

The gospel writers recorded what actually happened. If Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John had felt that they had the liberty to select what suited their message, Matthew would certainly not have included that some doubted, would he? And if the gospel writers had felt free to invent, they would have written surely that when the women came to the tomb, well of course they immediately believed. [01:12:16]

Many people struggle to believe because of the appalling evil in the world. Two world wars, the horrors of trench warfare, World War I, the obscenities of World War II, the continued inhumanity of man to man in subsequent wars and conflicts causing many, many people over the last hundred years to struggle with faith and many to abandon faith altogether. [06:09:12]

Massive disappointment is a second reason why many people struggle to believe. That may be where you are right now. It may be where someone you know and love is right now. The loss of a job, loss of your health, loss of a loved one, the failure of some great venture into which you have invested so much, the collapse of some ministry that was once vibrant and thriving. [07:55:59]

The resurrection of Jesus speaks directly to all the reasons that people struggle to believe. You struggle to believe because of indescribable evil. What do you have to say with regards to indescribable evil? You see, if it were not for the resurrection of Jesus, the indescribable evil, the atrocities of history, the evil you may have experienced is unanswered ever. [10:16:88]

The resurrection of Jesus Christ speaks to you in this way: the risen Lord Jesus Christ is gathering a community, a community of people from every generation in history and from every nation and culture in the world, and he invites you to be part of that great community that will love him and enjoy him and serve him and glorify him forever and forever. [13:02:95]

Jesus there isn't Christ he comes alongside people who have said they will never believe, people who don't believe he comes alongside people who are struggling to believe and he leads them to faith. If you talk to anyone who is a real Christian, you will find that this is part of their story, that in some way or another at some point in their life they became aware that Christ was somehow awakening them. [15:08:32]

Christ shows his love to people who struggle to believe by presenting compelling evidence. Verse 27: put your finger here and see my hands, Thomas. Put out your hand and place it in my side. Now the very fact that Jesus said that indicates that although Thomas thought Jesus knew nothing about it, Jesus had heard what Thomas said. [17:38:39]

Christian faith is not a blind leap in the dark. It is a reasoned trust in a risen Savior that is based on compelling evidence. That's what Christian faith is. Christian faith is not a blind leap in the dark. It is a reasoned trust in a risen Savior based on compelling evidence. That's what Christian faith is and that's the whole point of this story. [20:09:60]

The compelling evidence on which faith is based, reasoned trust is based for us does not come through a repetition of resurrection experiences but rather through the compelling evidence that has been given to us in the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ. [21:36:40]

It's wonderful that Jesus wanted Thomas to be his disciple, the man who said I'll never believe in Jesus said I want you. Someone here has said you'll never believe and Jesus Christ is saying to you today he's awakening your heart he's saying I want you to be my disciple. I want you to get to these gospels and I want you to see the compelling evidence. [23:31:04]

Christ pursued Thomas who said he would never believe and would not let go until Thomas came and said my Lord and my God. It's wonderful that's the love of Christ for people who struggle to believe. Christ did not give up on him but Christ drew near and presented the compelling evidence and called him in order to win him and to lead him to faith. [27:21:41]

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Transcript
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