Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Easter and the Skeptic
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” —John 20:27
Easter isn’t just for Christians; it’s for skeptics too. Easter was for skeptical people in the first century. The Bible tells us, “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen” (Mark 16:14).
These disciples, hearing of the risen Lord appearing to Mary, did not believe. The most vocal of the bunch was Thomas. He said, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side” (John 20:25).
Eight days later, when the disciples (including Thomas) were meeting behind locked doors, Jesus showed up. And He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” (verse 27). To Thomas’ credit, he declared, “My Lord and my God!” (verse 28). That day, Thomas the skeptic became Thomas the believer.
God can take a skeptical person and turn him or her into a believer. How do I know? Because He did it for me. There was no person more skeptical than me. After all that I had seen and been exposed to, I was very skeptical when I first heard the promises and claims of Christ. But He has done and continues to do everything He promised. And He will do the same for you.
The skeptic thinks, Show me, and I will believe. But I say believe, and He will show you. The one who is willing to take that step of faith and believe will be amazed at what God will do. He can change skeptics—if they will come to Him.
Explore:
- Do you know someone who is skeptical about the gospel? Spend some time praying that God would provide them with the evidence they are seeking, and He would reveal Himself to them in a meaningful way, just as He did to Thomas.
Share:
- Today’s free song, “He Arose” is from Enter In, an album featuring the original compositions of the Harvest Worship Band. Consider ordering copies of Enter In for yourself and a friend.
Access more devotions and downloads by visiting the Road to the Resurrection at risen.harvest.org.
Copyright © 2011 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
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