Jn20:24-29 Faith Without Seeing 沒有看見就相信

# Faith Without Seeing
# <span class="zh">沒有看見就相信</span>
## John <span class="zh">約翰福音</span> 20:24-29

---

# What is my **response** <br/> to the **resurrection**?

>>>
+ moral **story** / fable?
  + nice thing **Jesus** did, 
  + but nothing to do with **me**?
+ **journey of faith** of
  + disciple called "Doubting Thomas"
  + ⇒ becomes "believing Thomas"

******
[24](# "ref")
Now **Thomas** (known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, <br/>
was **not** with the disciples when Jesus came. <br/>
[25](# "ref")
So the **other** disciples told him, “We have **seen** the Lord!”

[24](# "ref")
那十二個門徒中， 有稱為低土馬的 **多馬** ； <br/>
耶穌來的時候， 他 **沒有** 和他們同在。<br/>
[25](# "ref")
那些 **門徒** 就對他說： 我們已經 **看見** 主了。

</div>

[John 20:24-29 (p.1/6)](# "ref")

******
[25](# "ref")
But he said to them, <br/>
“Unless I see the **nail marks** in his hands <br/>
and put my **finger** where the nails were, <br/>
and put my **hand** into his side, I **will not** believe.”

多馬卻說： 我非看見他手上的 **釘痕** ， <br/>
用 **指頭** 探入那釘痕， <br/>
又用 **手** 探入他的肋旁， <br/>
**我總不信** 。

</div>

[John 20:24-29 (p.2/6)](# "ref")

******
[26](# "ref")
A week later his disciples were in the house again, <br/>
and **Thomas** was with them. <br/>
Though the doors were **locked**, <br/>
**Jesus** came and stood among them and said, <br/>
“**Peace** be with you!”

[26](# "ref")
過了八日， 門徒又在屋裡， <br/>
**多馬** 也和他們同在， <br/>
門都 **關** 了。 **耶穌** 來， <br/>
站在當中說： 願你們 **平安** ！

</div>

[John 20:24-29 (p.3/6)](# "ref")

******
[27](# "ref")
Then he said to Thomas, <br/>
“Put your **finger** here; see my **hands**. <br/>
Reach out your **hand** and put it into my **side**. <br/>
Stop **doubting** and **believe**.”

[27](# "ref")
就對多馬說： <br/>
伸過你的 **指頭** 來， 看我的 **手** ； <br/>
伸出你的 **手** 來， 探入我的 **肋旁** 。 <br/>
不要 **疑惑**， 總要 **信**。

</div>

[John 20:24-29 (p.4/6)](# "ref")

******
[28](# "ref")
Thomas said to him, “**My Lord** and **my God**!”

[28](# "ref")
多馬說： **我的主**！ **我的神**！

</div>

[John 20:24-29 (p.5/6)](# "ref")

******
[29](# "ref")
Then Jesus told him, <br/>
“Because you have **seen** me, you have **believed**; <br/>
blessed are those who have **not seen** <br/>
and yet have **believed**.”

[29](# "ref")
耶穌對他說： <br/>
你因 **看見了** 我才 **信**； <br/>
那 **沒有看見** 就 **信** 的有福了。

</div>

[John 20:24-29 (p.6/6)](# "ref")

---

## Faith Without Seeing
1. "I **will not** believe" [(v24-25)](# "ref")
2. "**Reach out** your hand" [(v26-27)](# "ref")
3. "My **Lord**, my **God**" [(v28-29)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Thomas' **journey of faith**:
  1. posture of **disbelief**
  2. personal **encounter** <br/> with risen Christ
  3. **proclamation** of faith

---

[Jean-Baptiste Jouvenet - The Raising of Lazarus, 1706](# "caption")

>>>
+ when Jesus' friend **Lazarus** was ill,
+ Thomas was **with** Jesus
  + across the Jordan
+ After Lazarus **died**, Jesus said:

---

Lazarus is **dead**, and for your sake I am **glad** <br/>
I was not there, so that you may **believe**. <br/>
But let us **go to him**.

拉撒路**死了**。
我沒有在那裡就**歡喜**， <br/>
這是為你們的緣故，
好叫你們**相信**。 <br/>
如今我們可以**往他那裡去**罷。

</div>

[John 11:14-15](# "ref")

>>>
+ religious leaders in Jerusalem <br/>
  had just tried to **stone** Jesus (Jn10:31)
  + **dangerous** to return

---

Then **Thomas** said to the rest of the disciples, <br/>
“Let us also go, that we may **die** with him.”

**多馬**， 就對那同作門徒的說： <br/>
我們也去和他**同死**罷。

</div>

[John 11:16](# "ref")

>>>
+ tells us about Thomas' **character**:
  + **zealous**, die for **noble cause**
  + but assumed death is **the end**
+ That's why, back in today's passage:

---

The **other** disciples told him, “We have **seen** the Lord!”

那些 **門徒** 就對他說： 我們已經 **看見** 主了。

</div>

[John 20:25](# "ref")

>>>
+ others had personal **encounter** w/risen Christ
  + realisation of their **hope**
  + what they'd been waiting for
+ but for Thomas, hope still **unseen**
  + so when he says:

---

“Unless I see the **nail marks** in his hands, <br/>
... I **will not** believe.”

我非看見他手上的 **釘痕** ， <br/>
... **我總不信** 。

</div>

[John 20:25](# "ref")

>>>
+ Thomas doesn't really want **proof**
  + he's **already** made up his mind
+ he "knows" resurrection is **impossible**
  + not **expecting** to actually see it
+ We do the **same**:
  + "my **life** is hopeless", **family**
  + "call me a **sinner**, <br/> that's just the **way** I am"

---

# Have I deemed **new life** in Christ as **impossible**?

>>>
+ Christ is the **realisation** of our hopes
  + **victory** over death + sin
  + we **say** we believe in Him
+ But do we **truly** believe Christ is
  + stronger than **death**?
  + stronger than **our sin**?

---

## Faith Without Seeing
1. "I will not believe" [(v24-25)](# "ref")
2. **"Reach out your hand"** [(v26-27)](# "ref")
3. "My Lord, my God" [(v28-29)](# "ref")

>>>
1. Thomas' **posture** of disbelief
2. Personal **encounter** w/risen Christ

---

**Jesus** came and stood among them and said, <br/>
“**Peace** be with you!”

**耶穌** 來， 站在當中說：
願你們**平安**！

</div>

[John 20:26](# "ref")
[Alexander Ivanov - Christ's Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection, 1835](# "caption")

>>>
+ post-resurrection **greeting** (3x Jn20)
+ desires that we be at **peace**
  + w/others, w/God
  + but only way is through **Himself**
+ Then addresses Thomas **directly**:

---

Put your **finger** here; see my **hands**. <br/>
Reach out your **hand** and put it into my **side**.

伸過你的 **指頭** 來， 看我的 **手** ； <br/>
伸出你的 **手** 來， 探入我的 **肋旁** 。 <br/>

</div>

[John 20:27](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Knows** Thomas is doubting
  + **invitation** to see for himself

---

[Caravaggio, "The Incredulity of Saint Thomas", 1601](# "caption")

>>>
+ **Caravaggio** (卡拉瓦乔)
  + Italian Baroque painter
  + **pulls** Thomas' finger in
  + **patience** for his disbelief
+ **truth** does not fear **examination**
  + true **gold** fears no fire
+ but **root** issue is not about **evidence**
  + but condition of the **heart**:

---

Stop **doubting** and **believe**

不要 **疑惑**， 總要 **信**

</div>

[John 20:27](# "ref")

>>>
+ adjectives (形容詞), not **verbs**
+ not **action** (doubting vs believing)
+ but what kind of **person** we are:
  + the unbelieving person, or
  + the believing person

---

# Do I **respond** to Christ's invitation with **belief** or disbelief?

>>>
+ not just **historical** event of resurrection
+ Christ's personal **invitation** today

---

## Faith Without Seeing
1. "I will not believe" [(v24-25)](# "ref")
2. "Reach out your hand" [(v26-27)](# "ref")
3. **"My Lord, my God"** [(v28-29)](# "ref")

>>>
1. Thomas' **posture** of disbelief
2. Personal **encounter** w/risen Christ
3. Thomas' **proclamation** of faith

---

Thomas said to him, “**My Lord** and **my God**!”

多馬說： **我的主**！ **我的神**！

</div>

[John 20:28](# "ref")

>>>
+ not just response to a **miracle**
+ not "**teacher**" / Rabbi
  + But **Lord** and **God**
+ authority, **obedience**, trust with life
  + **repent** from sin + disbelief
+ Thomas **lived** this faith:

---
## St. Thomas in India <span class="zh">印度</span>

![Kerala, India](/img/India_Kerala.svg)

</div><div>

![Church of St Thomas Mount](https://sermons.seanho.com/img/bg/Mt_Thomas_Church_Chennai.jpg)

</div></div>

>>>
+ Thomas later went to **India**
  + **Brahmin** (婆罗门): priests of Hindu (印度) temples,
    teachers, highest-ranking caste
+ 7 churches in **Kerala**, SW India
+ died in **Chennai**, SE India
  + speared through by a Brahmin

---

Blessed are those who have **not seen** <br/>
and yet have **believed**

那 **沒有看見** 就 **信** 的有福了

</div>

[John 20:29](# "ref")

>>>
+ now Christ's **invitation** comes to **us**
+ not something we can **hide** from:

---

Nothing in all creation is **hidden** from God’s sight. <br/>
Everything is **uncovered** and **laid bare** before  <br/>
the eyes of him to whom we must **give account**.

並且被造的沒有一樣在他面前不顯然的； <br/>
原來萬物在那與我們有關係的主眼前， <br/>
都是赤露敞開的。

</div>

[Hebrews 4:13](# "ref")

>>>
+ we will all stand before <br/>
  God's **throne of judgment**
+ for our **sins**, we deserve **death**
  + Christ died in our **place**
+ **Resurrection** demonstrates
  + Christ's **victory** over death + sin

---

# Will I **stake my life** on the **resurrection**?

>>>
+ **disciples**, incl. Thomas, saw it:
  + not as **fable** or moral story
  + **truth** they were willing to **die** for
  + hope that gives us **life**, <br/> both now and for eternity

---

These are **written** that you may believe <br/>
that Jesus is the **Messiah**, the **Son of God**, <br/>
and that by **believing** you may have **life** in his name.

但 **記這些事** 要叫你們信 <br/>
耶穌是 **基督**， 是 **神的兒子**， <br/>
並且叫你們 **信了他**， <br/>
就可以因他的名得 **生命**。

</div>

[John 20:31](# "ref")

>>>
+ **purpose** of recording journey of faith:
  1. **believe** Jesus is who He says He is
  2. receive new **life** in Him

---