John 20:24-31 | Food for Thought
Questions
Thomas missed out on Jesus’ appearance to the disciples.
How do you feel about Thomas’ response to the disciples?
Are there good reasons why he should’ve believed? Are there good reasons why he should’ve been skeptical?
Eight days pass, and Jesus enters through a locked door, greeted them with peace, and showed his scars to Thomas - just as he did the other disciples a week earlier.
Why did Jesus do this? What does he want?
What was Thomas’ response? Is there any significance in how he changed and what he declared about Jesus?
When Jesus says that those who believe without seeing are blessed, is Jesus saying something more than just that? (For example, is he trying to say something about Thomas? …the “strength” of some people’s faith vs. others’? …etc.?)
How can this passage actually be encouraging to those of us who want to believe / believe more confidently? Is it discouraging to anyone?
Jesus’ impending ascension puts His words and John’s explanation of his writing into context for us: once He ascends, no one will see Him or His signs in-person again. Belief will only be an “unseen” thing.
How does this context help shape what Jesus is trying to say?
How does this context help us understood the significance of what John’s doing and how he’s gone about trying to do it?
Most people want more evidence of Jesus, not less. And yet John’s saying here that he’s purposefully not including some of Jesus’ words and deeds in his writing.
How does it make you feel / what does it make you think when you hear that John left stuff out? Is John keeping something from us?
What is John’s purpose for writing this book?
What does it tell us that John made the conscious choice to not include everything in his writings?