This is a lesson I prepared for a Sunday School class series on Encounters with Jesus in the Book of John during the Fall of 2025. The lessons are meant to be a mix of teaching and interactive discussion in the group. This is an outline of my presentation that guided the teaching and discussion.
View Encounters with Jesus Lesson Series
Encounters with Jesus – Thomas
Doubt versus Unbelief
What is John’s stated purpose of writing this Gospel?
That you may believe… Believe appears 98 times in the Gospel of John
- Doubt is uncertainty or hesitation about the truth, validity, or reliability of something. It often involves questioning or seeking clarification.
- Intellectual and often temporary
- Doubt can coexist with belief (e.g. “I believe but have questions”)
- “I believe this medicine works, but I doubt it will work for me.”
- “I cannot believe. There are too many problems.”
- Doubt can lead to deeper understanding because it prompts investigation and reflection.
- Unbelief is the absence or rejection of belief in something, often a conscious decision not to accept as true.
- It is more volitional (a choice) or settled than doubt.
- Unbelief is not just questioning – it’s saying, “I do not believe”
- “I do not believe this medicine works at all
- “I will not believe unless you give me the evidence I require.”
- It is often seen as a hardened stance against faith, whereas doubt is seen as a struggle within faith.
Gospel of John and Thomas
- Thomas is mentioned in all four Gospels and the book of Acts, but is only included in a listing of disciples outside of Gospel of John.
- John gives a little insight into the character of Thomas prior to the passage before us. Along with some insight into the importance of belief and faith in the teaching of Jesus.
- John 11:11-16 “Courage and Loyalty”
- verse 15 “so that you may believe”
- John 14:1-7 “Honest Questioning”
- verse 1 “Believe in God; believe also in me”
- verse 7 “You do know him and have seen him”
Context
- Pre-context is John 20:16-18
- Mary Magdalene experienced Jesus and told the disciples.
- Context for this is John 20:19-23
- Now the disciples have had this experience and are telling Thomas.
Read John 20:24-25a
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” (ESV)
- If you were Thomas at this point, what would would you be thinking and feeling hearing this story?
But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
- Thomas response is 20:25b – Unbelief
- “I positively will not believe.”
- Do you identify with this response? Have you experienced this level of unbelief?
Believing Thomas
- Read John 20:26-29
- See how much Jesus loves Thomas?
- Jesus is there to confront the unbelief of Thomas. He meets Thomas where Thomas needs him most.
- How do people who have seen the risen Jesus announce him?
- John 20:16-18
- Mary greets him, “Rabboni (Teacher)”
- Mary declares to the disciples she has seen the Lord (Kyrion)
- John 20:25
- The disciples witness to Thomas by saying, the Lord (Kyrion)
- John 20:16-18
- John 20:28
- Thomas declares, “My Lord (Kyrion) and My God (Theos)”
- John is linking back to John 1:1, 18, 49
- How important is this statement?
- It is one of the strongest texts in the NT on the deity of Christ.
- It is the crowning moment of the book that leads into the purpose statement.
- Read John 20:30-31
What can you take away from this story to help you in your battle with doubt and unbelief?
- You need community
- You need humility
- You need a changed heart
***Thomas was brought into the story at three critical moments.
- Resurrection of Lazarus
- The Way the Truth and the Life statement
- Used as a model for believing the testimony of faithful witnesses.