TUESDAY- 13^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME –B

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

Gospel: John 20:24-29: The Great Conviction-Thomas’ Confession.

I Reading: Eph 2:19-22:

The Great Conviction-Thomas’ Confession, 20:24-29

This is excellent study on conviction and confession of Thomas, the one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

1.     Thomas’ frustrated, reactionary spirit (v.24-25)

a.     The disciples testified: Thomas argued

b.    The reason: Guilt-he had forsaken and withdrawn from them

2.     Thomas’ false picture of Jesus (v.25)

a.     He was just an earthly deliverer

b.    He was now dead

c.      Result: persistent doubt for eight days

3.     Thomas’ critical confrontation and confession: Jesus appeared and challenged and convicted him (v.26-28)

a.     The confrontation

1)    Jesus was aware of Thomas’ demands

2)    Jesus warned and called for belief

3)    The strong confession

4.     Thomas’ great lesson for all people.

Thought: To doubt is to be Christless.  “Separate from Christ...without hope and without God in the world” (Eph 2:12). False pictures of Jesus lead to unbelief. Jesus is more than a great teacher, a great prophet, a great man and a great founder of  religion.

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