Seeing and Believing | Frank Brancato

It's wonderful to be here. With all of you today.

And we appreciate the effort that you made to be.

With us as. Terry had mentioned we have.

Several of our number that are either sick or travelling or

other. Places today and couldn't be

with us. But we have a wonderful.

Crowd, because you are here. We have several visitors.

That are among. Us and we want.

You to know that you are our honored guest and we welcome you

every time that we have an occasion to meet.

As always is the case, I do consider.

It an. Honor to speak concerning.

The word. Of God and I'm really enjoying.

This series that I'm taking. Us through and that is the. 40

days between the time that Jesus.

Rose from the dead early on that Sunday.

Morning until the time that he ascended to his.

Father in Acts chapter. One those. 40 days today in our.

Lesson we come to the. 6th post resurrection appearance by

Jesus. Remember the first five,

actually. Happened on Resurrection Sunday.

We come to #6. And our narrative is going to be

taken in John chapter 20 and verse 29.

John 20 · chapter mention

And I've entitled our remarks Seeing and Believing and.

Yes, we're going to talk about. Thomas, today we're going to

talk. About a man that's gotten a bad

rap. A man who has the word doubting

attached to him. As a stigma we're going to talk

about. Is it really fair?

What's really the circumstances surrounding?

What actually happened and how? Did the Lord respond to this man

called Thomas the 6th appearance?

Our text. Is found though in John chapter

John 20 · chapter mention

20 and verse 29. Jesus said to him, Thomas,

because you have seen me. You have believed.

Blessed. Are those who have not seen and

yet have believed. Let's just back up to the 5th

appearance. And that's where we left off

last time. We just kind of set this up.

Because it's very important. To remember when Jesus made his.

5th post resurrection appearance.

On that Resurrection Sunday, we find it was in the evening on

that Sunday and when that happened.

Jesus met with those 10. Why do I say?

10. I say. 10 Because there were 12

apostles, Judas had already. Gone out and hanged.

Himself, so he wasn't there and for whatever reason.

Thomas, an apostle, was not. Present in the. 5th post

resurrection appearance. Jesus had just had that.

Encounter with those two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

And the. Bible says as they travelled.

Along that 7 miles on the. Road to Emmaus Jesus appears

before these two disciples. And they don't know who it is.

Jesus preaches from the Word. Of God going all the way back to

the Old Testament all. The things.

Concerning himself and they still.

Don't know, it's Jesus. They get to Emmaus, and Jesus

acts as though he's going to keep.

On walking by, but they compelled him to stay and go

into their home and there's a wonderful.

Picture there. Jesus will never force himself.

On you if you want. Jesus in your life.

You got to invite him into your heart.

You have to invite him into your home.

You have to. Invite him into your life.

And that's exactly what happened.

Jesus finally reveals himself to those two disciples.

In the breaking of bread. And it was a great experience.

We know and then all. Of a sudden, he vanishes from

their sight. Amazing experience, right of

all. The things that.

They could have been. Impressed with this, is what

they said. Didn't our hearts burn within?

Us when he showed. Us the scriptures along the.

Way the things concerning himself.

What happened? The Word of God was preached by

Jesus, the greatest. Preacher the world ever knew.

It burned in their hearts and they.

Couldn't sit still, they go. 7 miles by foot again back to

Jerusalem, and they walk in and they tell the disciples the 10

that are present, they tell them.

They had seen the resurrected. Christ and about that time.

Here comes Jesus. And he?

Peers before them, and Jesus shows them the marks of

crucifixion. He shows the. 10 apostles that

were there. The.

Hands and his feet. Then he does this, he preaches.

I love it, Luke. 2444 Then he said to them, These are the

words. Which I spoke to you while I

was. Still with you that all things

must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of.

Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms concerning.

Me remember please #1 all. This happened on Resurrection

Sunday. And remember.

Too, Thomas was not there notice.

What happens in John chapter? 20 and verse 24.

Now Thomas called the Twin 1. Of the 12 was not.

With them. When Jesus came now I got to

say, maybe you are sitting here. And you know exactly what I'm

talking about when I say the phrase Doubting Thomas.

I've heard it all my life, in fact.

You know what? Because of this narrative.

And because of the things. That are going to happen here.

People actually use that phrase just like they use the phrase.

Betrayer. When they talk about Judas,

somebody turns their. Back on somebody.

Somebody stabbed. Somebody in the back,

metaphorically. Somebody actually betrays.

Somebody. And they say, oh.

Judas because a stigma is. Attached to the act of betrayal,

right? Well, what people often do when

people. Doubt is they take this.

Thomas and the stigma that's been attached to him as.

A doubter and they say. You're being a doubting.

Thomas OK, fair enough. I.

Guess, but let's just. Talk about what the Bible says

about Thomas. The Word of God never calls.

Thomas. A doubter.

The phrase doubting Thomas is a man made.

Phrase. That is not in the Bible and was

not. Given to Thomas as a.

Title or as a name. What?

Actual name is he given? Well, the Bible.

Says he is Thomas called. The twin in the old king.

James, you. Know what it says?

Thomas called Didymus. Now why is it called Didymus and

what does that mean? Well.

Obviously Thomas is his Hebrew. Name.

The corresponding Greek name for the Hebrew name Thomas is.

Didymus. You know what didymus means?

It just means the twin. By the way, I think that's why I

love the new king. James, it just says what it

means. Like when they travelled along

the road to. Emmaus, it says, I think.

Three score furlongs in the. In the old King James and the

New. King James just says. 7 miles,

which is exactly how far that is.

I love that. So here it just calls Thomas

the. Twin OK why is he called the?

Twin. I don't know.

In fact, I've done some research.

And it's not known whether. He's called or why he's called

the? Twin, but he's always referred.

To as the. Twin and the only thing that I

can find or I can come up. With for sure is it was similar

to a surname. Or family.

Name. So he was called Thomas.

The twin, OK. But like I said before, because

of the incident that's before us.

Thomas. Called Denimus.

Called the twin. Whatever you want to say.

Gets a really bad Rep I'm going to notice.

With you a couple. Of things about Thomas, though,

let's back up in another narrative.

Remember the? Story when Jesus raised Lazarus.

From the dead. Jesus goes.

And he goes to Bethany. But he waits when he finds out

that. Lazarus was sick.

And Lazarus was a dear friend. Of Jesus, so was his sisters.

Mary and Martha when the word. Gets to the Master, gets to

Jesus. Jesus knows he's sick.

He knows. That he's going to die, and he

waits anyway. He had bigger plans.

He's going to raise him from the dead, right?

When word. Finally gets back to Jesus that

Lazarus is dead. Jesus says to his disciples,

Lazarus sleeps. And they said they

misunderstood. And they said, wait a minute.

If he sleeps, he does Well, right?

Because after all, when you're sick, you sleep.

That's a good thing. Finally, Jesus had to correct

him. He says no.

Lazarus is dead and Jesus said. Let us go to him.

Now. Remember what the disciples

said. The other disciples said no.

Wait a minute. They want to stone.

You back. There we had a bad.

Experience the last time. We were there.

They want to kill you. Jesus, do you remember?

What Thomas said This is what Thomas.

Said in John 11 and. 16 then Thomas, who is.

Called the twin. Said to his fellow disciples,

Let us also. Go that we may die.

With him. Let's talk about the character

of Thomas for just a moment, shall we?

In the Gospel Advocate commentary, it says this.

I thought this was rather interesting.

Thomas was a man that looked on the.

Dark Side. And saw the difficulties that

threatened he. Anticipated the death of Jesus,

but proposed to the other disciples to go with.

Him and share his fate. Thomas was faithful.

To his master. Although anticipating the worst,

so. Let me just say this.

When you think about Thomas. Before.

You're too hard on Thomas. Let me ask you something.

Do you know anybody at all? Like that, I'm going to say

something. I don't know how it is with you

and I really don't care. I'm just going to say this.

Maybe it is you. What, Somebody looked on the

dark side all the time? Someone that immediately saw the

negative. Doesn't mean they're a bad.

Person. Their mindset went to the

negative. The dark side focused on the

difficulties. That threaten.

Sound familiar? Don't we do that sometimes?

What else? You're faithful to the.

Master Jesus. But you anticipate the worst.

That was Thomas, folks. I'm going to tell you something.

This is anybody that is. Temporarily or permanently, or

every now and then, or whatever you want to call it.

This is somebody that is fear. Driven and not faith driven.

And I'm going to say. There's two kinds of people.

Faith driven people. And fear driven.

People. But there's a third kind, too.

I got to slip this in. In all fairness, in all honesty,

in all fairness, sometimes there's somebody that's both.

Because sometimes you can be faith driven, but your fears

kick in. And when your fears?

Are going against your. Faith and pulls you in the

opposite direction. Then comes anxiety.

You know what that's called? That's called.

Anxiety. That's called stress.

That's called all the things that are bad.

For us, he saw the negative. Now I'm going to tell you

something. Some.

People are positive, ridiculously so.

All the time I. Consider myself an optimistic

positive. Person but if I walk around all.

Day. Every day, 365 days a year.

Thinking. Everything's wonderful there's.

Probably something. Wrong with me, that's not.

Realistic because sometimes there are negative things too,

and negative thoughts, and sometimes there's sadness,

sometimes there's difficulty. That's called reality.

But sometimes too, our mindset. Goes to the negative.

And we go there too. Fast.

And it takes our faith away. And if.

That's the case. Be careful.

Thomas was a faithful. Servant of Jesus.

Who looked on the dark side and anticipated the worst?

OK. Let's go back to John. 20 and

verse 25. Notice this is the other.

Disciples now remember, Thomas was not there.

He missed out, so the disciples therefore said to him, We've

seen the. Lord, Can you imagine how?

Thomas must have felt. He wasn't there.

He didn't see Jesus. He didn't see the nail prints in

his hands. He didn't see the nail prints in

his feet. He didn't get to hear the

sermons Jesus preached. Post resurrection, he missed all

of it. And now the disciples said.

We've seen the Lord. Here's why he's called Doubting

Thomas. Here it.

Is because Thomas doubted or. Sorry, Thomas demanded to have.

More. Positive.

Evidence of the identity of. Jesus than merely seeing the

wounds. EM Zur says it this.

Way no severe. Criticism should be made of.

Thomas. For he seemed.

Only to be more. Exacting or cautious than the.

Others and might not have. Realized how convincing.

The very sight of the wounds would be in establishing the

identity of Jesus. OK.

Now. You know what Thomas wanted?

He. Wanted the same evidence.

The others got. He wasn't rejecting Jesus.

He never even got to see him. All he.

Wants is the same evidence the others got.

So he says this unless I see in his hands.

The print of the nails. And put my finger.

Into the print of the. Nails and put my hand in his.

Side I. Will not believe he wanted marks

of crucifixion. Remember this.

Remember this? Why would he think that?

You know what, my mind? Did my mind went right to

Matthew chapter 20? 4.

Matthew 20 · chapter mention

Now this is not very. Far, far, very long ago.

And maybe in Thomas's mind, Matthew 24 kicked in when.

Jesus was talking about the destruction of Jerusalem.

We don't. Have time to go into that.

I'm going to throw 1. Verse on the screen.

Actually it's 2 verses I think. Notice what happened.

Maybe this is exactly what Thomas was thinking.

Jesus was giving them signs before the destruction of

Jerusalem. After Jesus would be.

Long gone. Notice Matthew 24 then, if

anyone. Says to you, look, here is the

Christ or there? Do not believe it, right?

He says if. Anybody.

Before the destruction of Jerusalem, when you see these

signs comes and says I am Jesus or I've seen the.

Christ, don't believe it. Now that's coming from the

Master. For false Christs and false

prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to

deceive. If possible, even the.

Elect OK, so now. We come to appearance number. 6

post resurrection appearance #6 in verse 26.

After 8. Days now I'm going to get to

that. Phrase 8 days in just a minute

we're. Going to find out exactly what

day it was where all that happened, OK?

So. I'll get back to.

That in just a moment. But after 8 days, his disciples

were. Inside and Thomas.

Was with them. Remember, we already said Thomas

wasn't there first now. Let's go back to this.

Phrase here 8 days. After.

Eight days. What day was that?

Well, first of all, we got to go. 8 days from.

What? In John chapter 20 and verse. 19

John 20 · chapter mention

then the same. Day and evening being the.

First day. Of the week when the doors were

shut. Where the disciples were

ascended for fear of the Jews, Jesus.

Came and stood in the midst. And said to them.

Peace be with you. All right, now we know.

This. This is the first.

Sunday or Resurrection? Sunday in the evening, what do

we know? The doors were locked.

Scholars say they were probably bolted or barred for fear of the

Jews. What were they doing there?

They. Were in Jerusalem.

Remember, this is only three days after the crucifixion, so

Passover. Time the festival would have

continued, so they would. Have stayed in Jerusalem.

Right. Why were they privately also not

travelling? They were privately not

travelling. First of all.

For fear of the Jews, they just crucified Jesus.

They were followers of Jesus. So maybe there was.

Fear there, but there's more. They were during the period of

mourning. They just lost the Saviour.

The Mishnah. Which is a collection.

Of traditions. Jewish traditions, do you know?

What the missionary? Required if somebody died, a

near relative or someone like that.

Seven days of mourning. And then by the way, for

dignitaries, it was like 30 public after that private

anyway, all kinds of mourning that was in the missionary,

right? You are only talking about 3

days. After Jesus was crucified, so

no. Doubt they were still.

In mourning. And they didn't understand, so

travelling would have been very uncommon.

So they were there and it was on the first day of the week, that

is Sunday. Now, what about this phrase

right here after eight days? What day was that?

Well, you might think, well, eight days later, that'd be on

Monday, right? No, it's on Sunday.

Because the way the Jews. Counted days they.

Counted first the day that. You're on SO.

Sunday, Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 8th day, Sunday and.

You might think well that's odd, no it's not.

Do you know we do that same thing?

We haven't at Plans Rd. We have 5 day meetings now, but

there was a time when we only had eight day meetings Sunday to

Sunday. We.

Called them eight day meetings. Hey, Preacher.

Where are you going? I got an 8 day meeting at Plans

Rd. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 8 days, so

it's not uncommon. Why is it significant?

Remember the Old Testament? Significant.

Day was the Sabbath day. And remember this.

Jesus did whatever he wanted. On the Sabbath they hated.

Him for it. He said I can do whatever I

want. On the Sabbath, I'm.

Greater than the Sabbath, I'm Lord.

Of the Sabbath, right? But there's more.

He also marked the transition. Between.

The Old Testament significant day of the Sabbath.

And the new? Testament significant day, which

is. The first.

Day of the week which? Is Sunday.

You think this is an accident? He rose from the grave on the

first day of the week, bringing in a New Testament, New Covenant

era. He meets with those disciples on

the road to Emmaus and preaches the very first sermon ever

preached after the resurrection by Jesus himself, about Jesus.

Later on that night, he. Goes through these locked.

Doors and he meets with them and he.

Preaches another sermon to them. Preached by the master.

About the Master on the first day of the week.

Thomas didn't get to see. All that.

You know what? Jesus does.

He could. Have showed up on Monday.

Tuesday, Wednesday. Thursday, Friday.

Saturday. No, he didn't do that.

He shows up on the first day of the week.

That's our significant day, by the way.

We're not done. When the Kingdom came, when the.

First Gospel sermon was priest. With the with the.

Opportunity to respond to it in Acts chapter.

Two, it was on the 1st. Day of the week.

Very, very significant. Jesus comes.

In he walked comes inside. The doors are being.

Shut he stood in that. Midst and he.

Said. Peace to you.

I think he's got Thomas attention now.

Peace to you. Now I got to say about this.

Greeting. It's.

True. That a Jewish greeting was.

Peace to you. In fact, they called it Shalom.

In fact, sometimes they would say it twice for emphasis.

Shalom, Shalom. You know what it means.

It actually means peace be with you.

So because of that. A lot of commentators.

Will say or some commentators. Will say all he was doing is.

He was giving them a. Greeting and as I.

Dealt. With the last.

Time. No, He.

Wasn't Jesus was giving them peace?

Give you a Bible. For that Second Thessalonians 3.

16 the apostle Paul says. Says now may the Lord.

Of peace himself give you peace always and every way.

The Lord be with you all. What is Jesus?

Bible. Calls him the Prince of Peace.

What else is he? He's the.

Author of Peace. You know what else he is?

He is the giver of peace. And may I just suggest if you

really want the? Peace of God that surpasses.

All understanding in your life. If you really want peace that

can handle every way or every. Circumstance of life, it is only

with Jesus Christ. You know why?

He's the only giver. Of it, I'm going to tell you

this. There's things in my life when

I'm at peace and there's things in my life when I'm stressed.

And that's life. That's called life, right?

Do you know from a human? Standpoint when I feel I don't

know. From a human standpoint, when I

feel the best. It's when there's no problems,

nobody's opposing me. I got no issues, bills are paid,

stuff is OK. Nobody's yelling at me.

You know and. Humanly, I feel at peace.

But you know. What?

That is peace. That's based on circumstance.

Yeah, you can also have peace. By taking a pill.

You can pop a pill. And get some peace.

There's a lot of ways to. Get a peaceful feeling.

But if you want the. Peace of God that surpasses all

understanding if. You want the peace that.

Comes from only the. Lord, who is the Lord?

Of peace, let him give it to you.

And you have peace. Of mind knowing this that.

Everything is OK between my soul.

And God, no matter what I got to tell you in my life, I've had a

couple close calls and I do not want to die.

I got work to do. And I don't want the Lord to

come back yet. I know.

Stay with me. I don't want the Lord to come

back yet either. You know why?

Because there are lost. Souls out there that.

Need to be saved I. Don't want him to come back yet

and I don't want to be. Out of this world.

I don't want to die yet I got work to do.

I got people that need me and I got work to.

Do for the cause of. Christ, and that's how I.

Feel. But if God blows me out of here,

I'm all right, I'll be all right, Paul says.

For me to live is Christ, to die is gain if the Lord takes.

Me out gain for me. If the Lord makes me live, it's

for the cause of Christ and that's what I want.

It's the peace that is without the circumstances of life,

regardless. That's what Jesus said.

Now we go. To verse 27.

And he's talking to Thomas. He said.

Thomas, reach your finger here. Look at this.

And look at my hands. Look, Thomas.

Remember this? I touched on it last time.

I'm going to expound upon it a little more about this.

The. Romans when they crucified.

Historically, many times they. Use rope and not nails.

Sometimes they tied their hands, sometimes they tied their hands.

And feet. And when they did?

That it was still death by. Suffocation they would still.

Have to lift themselves up and take a.

Breath. And then?

Back down again then. Up and down and sometimes.

They use rope and that's why. Historically, many times.

People live for. Days and days and days and days

and. Days on the cross because.

It was death by suffocation. Finally, when they were so.

Exhausted, they would succumb to it.

They would sink. Down and they would.

Suffocate and die that way. We know that, OK.

Sometimes, though, the Romans would not.

Use ropes for hands and feet. Sometimes they would use nails.

For one. And ropes for the other.

But when it came to. Jesus.

They use nails one. Scholar said as a sadistic.

But often death hastening variation.

They only used nails. Now, I said.

All that to say this Jesus says. Look at my.

Hands. And I got.

To tell you I've seen depictions of a crucifixion.

I've actually actually made comments when I was younger.

From the pulpit. I think I might have been a

little wrong about something. It's OK, you learn, you correct

it. But I used to.

See the depiction. Of ropes on the wrist and the

nails in the palms. And I used to say no.

The Bible says he was. Nailed, so he didn't.

Have any? Ropes.

This is what I've. Read historically from the

Romans. If they drove nails into the

palm of the hand of. Jesus.

They would have had. To use ropes or else.

The palm would have ripped. It would have not held the body.

So I'll tell you what I think they really did I think.

And some historians suggest this.

Too. And then I looked up the Greek.

Word and it supports it supports this too.

The word hands means the forearm.

That means they drove the nails into the.

Wrist right there. By the way, the nerve endings

are horrible right there. Horribly painful.

If the nail was here, folks, it would hold the body.

I don't think they used a rope at all with Jesus.

I think they drove the nails right.

There and right there. And did the same.

With the feet. So I just said that to say this.

I don't think this picture. Is accurate when he said look.

At my hands. I think he was talking about his

wrists. Doesn't matter no necessarily

other than just know this. He was nailed and it was a mark

of crucifixion. Now.

Kaufman said it this way. He said Jesus was telling.

Thomas And this is very. Important test the evidence make

your investigation of the. Facts and do not be.

Faithless. But.

Believing. You know, Kaufman said it.

This way this disproves the falsehood.

That knowledge leads to unbelief.

Haven't you ever had somebody say man?

When people. Are really smart they.

They don't have any faith. And people sometimes say, wait a

minute, there's intellect, and then there's faith.

And faith is. Kind of for us.

I don't know, Hay. Seeds or.

Whatever those country, those of us, they're kind of country

boys, you know, and we're not in the know and we're not really

all that educated. You know that's for us.

But you know what? You get knowledge.

Faith goes out the window. No, Sir.

That's not what's happening here, Jesus said.

Look. At the evidence and belief.

Look at the facts. And then?

Belief, Kaufman said. This way.

Ignorance leads to unbelief and. So does prejudice.

Sin and rebellion of heart. If you want to know where

unbelief comes from, it comes. From that.

Kind of stuff right there. And if you've seen the.

Evidence and you've seen the facts and you don't.

Believe that is called willful. Ignorance that always.

Goes hand in hand. With willful rejection, OK.

Now. As we said before.

Thomas is often called a doubter, but the Lord did not

refer to Thomas as a. Doubter, he referred.

To Thomas, please get this. As an unbeliever.

And there may be time in your life or in the life.

Of somebody. When they're unbelieving because

they. Don't have enough?

Facts or evidence? All Jesus was saying is I want

you to see the evidence I want. You to look at the.

Facts and then. I want you to believe that.

Sound familiar? You know what Thomas said?

Thomas saw the evidence and he said, My Lord and my God, he

said, My Lord and my God, you know.

There's no. Indication that Thomas ever

touched the Lord's side. There's no indication.

At all. Because remember.

What Thomas said. Unless I.

See it and touch it. I'm not going to believe.

Jesus, brilliant, Jesus says here I am, see it and touch it

as soon as he said. That Thomas just said, my Lord

and my God, he saw the evidence and that was enough.

It's the divine title of Jesus. You know why?

Because. Jesus is deity.

Jesus is. God.

I have to make this. Point because I don't want

anybody to think. And.

Leave here misunderstanding what?

I say when I said. Jesus is God when I say Jesus.

Is God. I'm not.

Saying he's the same person as. God the Father in heaven.

The Bible says there's three that bear.

Record in heaven. There is God.

There is Jesus Christ. And there is the holy.

Spirit in the Godhead. They are all God, meaning they

are all. Deity.

So why are they called God God. Is the family name of.

Deity 3. Separate persons.

Three different roles. All.

Working together. All.

Deity. Right, kind of like this.

I'm a broncado. There's a lot of broncados

before me that are dead and gone, and there's broncados.

That exist. Today and even have another.

Little broncado on the way, and maybe we'll have a bunch of

broncados someday in the future. That'd be great.

Are we all the same person? No, we're all broncados because

we. Bear the name Broncano.

That's the family name, but there's all the individuals,

just like in the Godhead. Three separate individuals.

Bearing the name. Of God, which is the.

Family name. Of deity Jesus is deity there's

10 New Testament passage that passages that declared Jesus as.

God. Here's just a few.

I'm going to give you 3 because I don't have time.

Here we go. Matthew. 123 talking about.

Jesus. Behold, the Virgin that's Mary

shall be with. Child, that's Jesus and.

Bear a son. And they shall call.

His name? Emmanuel, which is?

Translated God with us, even the name God with us, John chapter 1

John 1 · chapter mention

and verse one in the beginning. Was the word and the.

Word was with God. And the word.

Was God. Second Peter.

2 Peter 1 · chapter mention

Chapter 1 and verse one. Simon Peter, a bondservant and

apostle of Jesus Christ to those who have obtained like precious

faith with us by the righteousness of our.

God and Savior Jesus. Christ.

OK, Jesus Christ is our Savior. Absolutely, but he is.

God, He. Bears the family name of.

Deity Jesus is. God too.

That's why he's. Called the son of.

God, meaning he's fully. Divine and that's.

Why he's called the Son. Son of Man.

Meaning he's fully human. That is our Messiah, all right.

Guess what? When the evidence was shown.

To Thomas, he not only recognized that that was Jesus.

But he. Recognized that he's deity and

he said my Lord and my God. But notice what?

Jesus response is and stay. With me, we're almost finished.

Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen.

Me. You have believed all right.

There's another passage that kind of runs hand in.

Hand with seeing and believing I have to narrate it.

So we're not going to turn there.

I'm going to be quick. But you remember when, Mary?

Magdalene went to the sepulcher. And the storm was rolled.

Away. It was dark.

It was very. Early in the morning.

It was on the morning of the resurrection.

Of Jesus still. Dark and Mary Magdalene goes,

And what did she? See, the stone is rolled.

Away and the body of Jesus is. Gone.

She goes. Back hurriedly, and I would

imagine she ran as fast as she could.

Mary Magdalene goes. And he she tells Peter and John

they have taken. My Lord and I don't know where

they have laid him. Peter and John, the Bible says

they. Ran.

Together and I'm trying to picture these two guys.

And they're sprinting. And the Bible says John outran

Peter. I would have thought Peter

outran John, but anyway, he outran Peter in that little race

to the grave. But guess what happened?

John stops at the grave. He doesn't go in.

He kneels down. He looks like this.

And then here comes Peter, blowing by him.

Right inside there and he sees you know what they and as soon.

As he does, guess what? John followed and they both

look. You know what happened?

They saw the grave clothes, they saw the napkin, and they saw the

body of Jesus was gone. Saying all that to say this.

Then in John 20 and. 8 Then the other disciple.

That's John. Who came to the tomb?

First went in and saw and believed.

This may. Be, by the way, the origin.

Of the phrase seeing is. Believing they saw.

And they believed in the. Case of Thomas he saw.

The wounds that identified Jesus as the one who had died and the

one that's now living and. It caused Thomas to believe.

Very important. Jesus did not condemn Thomas.

For arriving at his. Faith from the things in which

he had seen. There's nowhere that it

suggests. That the Lord condemned him for

arriving. At his faith because of.

What he saw. By way of facts and evidence.

The point is this he. Enjoyed an advantage that guess.

What My brother right here will never have you.

You will never have. All of you will never have.

I will never have. We will never see the

resurrected. Christ.

We will never see the. Nail prints in his hands and.

In his feet. And we will never.

Hear the Lord standing in front of us and preaching a.

Sermon about himself. We will never.

Ever see that? Don't see where the?

Emphasis is here. It's not condemning Thomas, it's

praising you. It's praising those.

That don't get to see. That's why Jesus says blessed.

Are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Kaufman said it this way. Jesus did not pronounce.

A blessing upon Thomas. Which is not to say that a

blessing was withheld. But that he did not hear

announce 1. That grace having been.

Reserved for the faithful of all ages.

Who have believed? Without seeing.

And. Those whose hearts rightly.

Appraise the words of the. Apostles as absolute truth that

appraisal Thomas was not able to make in other.

Words, since not all of mankind could have the bodily.

Presence of Jesus as evidence, Kaufman said.

One's own heart. Must speak to him as the sacred

chapters of the New Testament are.

Read and that is the Word of God.

It's about faith, but make no mistake.

About it faith is based. On evidence, how do I know that

not the evidence? Of seeing the literal Jesus, but

the evidence of the. Word of God.

Romans 10/17 So faith. Comes by hearing and hearing.

By the word of God, you hear the word of God, and you.

Believe it because it's fact. Because that's how.

You believe the Bible? What?

Else Hebrews 11 and one What is faith?

It's the substance of things hoped.

For. It is the evidence.

Of things that are not seen. Finally, we come to the end of

the chapter and we have John divinely inspired by the Holy

Spirit. After the narrative, that is.

Before us, this is what. Is said about Jesus.

And truly, Jesus did many. Other signs in the presence.

Of his. Disciples which are not written

in this book. But these are written that you

may believe that. Jesus is the Christ.

The Son of God. And that believing.

You may have life through his name.

He. Wrote those two verses John did.

For the information of his. Readers which what would

ultimately give believers? Spiritual life and salvation

through. His name?

Notice this phrase. Right here, truly, Jesus did

many other signs in the presence of his disciples.

That are not written in this. Book.

Can you imagine all the things Jesus did when he walked on the

face of the earth that we have no idea what that was?

This. First actually coincides with

the passage found. In John 21 and. 25.

And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if

they were. Written by 1 were written. 1 by

1. I suppose that even the world.

Itself could not contain the books that would be written, you

know. I've looked at that passage.

All my life. And I've interpreted like this.

If everything that was written was written down in books.

The world. Is not a big enough place to

contain the writings. World's pretty big place, isn't

it? There's a lot of books in the

world, so what's it really mean? The word world.

Means. People on the earth so.

If everything Jesus did was actually.

Written down 1 by 1, then all the people on the.

Earth that. Live would not be.

Able to contain it. The word.

Contain means from the Greek. To receive with mind or

understanding. In other words, Jesus did.

So many wonderful things. So many mighty things.

So many. Amazing things that were so

great. If they were all written down a

man. Couldn't even comprehend.

With. Understanding everything the

Lord did. He did that much?

Wow. That's a lot of stuff, you know,

sometimes in life, sometimes in life.

There's a phrase less is. More, sometimes less is more.

And I don't, I don't achieve this very often.

But in a sermon, yeah, less is more.

Sorry when I don't achieve that. Less is more if people.

Get too much information it's. Hard to comprehend with.

Full. Understanding every single thing

that's. What he's saying here.

So how is the word of God all sufficient?

Notice this phrase. I suppose that even the world

itself could not contain the books that are.

Written. Notice Zur says this the.

Entire Bible is very brief. And the Lord.

Placed before mankind. Enough.

Only to make the. Necessary preparation for.

Usefulness in this life and. Happiness in the next.

The Bible says we've been. Given all things that pertain.

To life and godliness, and it's right here in the Bible.

So early this. Morning as I close early this

morning, I'm sitting there at my desk in my pre sermon routine as

I get early in the morning, very dark, very early 5:00 AM start

looking over my lesson, things that I might want to preach.

And I got to thinking about this, what Zur says about the

Bible being briefed. And I looked at my Bible and

then next to it I got a study Bible.

It's about that thick and I got to figure, wow, that's pretty.

Thick. Is it really brief?

There's 39 books in the Old Testament, 27 in the new.

That's a lot seems like but. Compared to everything that the

Lord did, it's brief. Compared to everything that

happened in God's timetable is brief.

My point is when the Bible says it's enough, all scripture is

given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for

reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

that. The man of God may be complete

thoroughly equipped. For every good work.

You don't need anything more than that.

And if anybody says you need more than the word of God.

They're sadly mistaken. You just.

Need. The word and he gave it to us.

It's enough. So if you might be saying well.

What about? What about?

What about? What about?

What about? Let me just say this.

Follow Jesus. All the way to.

Heaven and then ask him later. All I know is what we've been

given is enough. Are you here today and you're

not a Christian? Have you heard enough?

Have you heard enough? To be saved, we always extend an

invitation. To somebody that might be

subject to the gospel call. What do you have?

To do to be saved the 1st. Thing you got to do, You got to

hear the word of God. I used this passage already.

Romans 10/17 So faith comes by. Hearing and hearing.

By the word of God, then what? After you hear the word of God,

you get a choice. You got to believe with all your

heart. Hebrews 11 and 6.

Without faith, it's impossible to please.

Him for he who comes. To God must.

Believe that he is. And that he is a.

Rewarder of those. Who diligently seek him then?

I got to make a. Change.

It's called repentance. Not going to be perfect.

Going to mess up, going to make. Mistakes.

I'm just. Going to change my direction.

I've been going that way. I'm not going to do that.

Anymore I'll follow. Jesus, great stuff, going to

change my heart, going to change my motives, going to change my

life and it's going to change my relationship with Jesus

eventually notice. Then I got to be willing to

confess Jesus as the Son of God. Acts 830.

Seven then, Philip said. If you believe with.

All your heart you. May and he.

Answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ.

Is the Son of God. Upon taking those steps, though,

it leads us to. The point of salvation to be

baptized for the remission of. Sins, Mark 1616.

He who? Believes and is baptized will be

saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Is it? Necessary and do you have?

To first Peter 3. 21 the like figure.

Where the even? Baptism does also now save us,

not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer.

Of a good conscience. Toward God by the resurrection

of Jesus Christ. If you've never.

Taken those steps of obedience. To become a Christian, to

become. A child of God.

We would love to assist you in that.

Today maybe you have maybe. You just got some stuff.

In your life, maybe you've. Drifted away.

Maybe you've been away from the Lord.

Get right. Repent of that.

Confess. That we'll pray with you and for

you God will forgive and restore.

We want to be the class. Come forward while we stand,

while we stand.