1099. Some Attestations Thomas Received

Some Attestations Thomas Received

"And many other signs truly did Jeans in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this Book" (Joh_20:30).

Not only did Thomas have the privilege of walking and talking with Christ, but Thomas received three distinctive lines of positive attestations as to the Deity and Sonship of Jesus Christ.

1. Thomas received attestations from men. We will mention three distinct occasions where men gave voice to the Deity of Christ.

(1) The first is that at Caesara Philippi (see Mat_16:13-17). Jesus Christ had questioned the disciples: "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man am?" The answer had been given, "Some say that Thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets."

Christ then asked: "But whom say ye that I am?" Without a moment's hesitancy Peter replied: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Thomas was there. He not only must have acquiesced in Peter's response, but he heard Christ say: "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona."

(2) The second is that of the centurion at the Cross. The populace had passed beneath the Cross wagging their heads and flaunting their loathsome words against the Son of God; the thieves cried against Him; one of the two had later pled for grace and had received a message of assurance; the darkness had hung over the Cross like a shroud for three long hours, and then it had passed away; the Lord had cried "My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me?" the final cry of the Cross was past. Then the centurion cried: "Truly this was the Son of God" (Mat_27:54).

Thomas had known of all this. Surely he should have been satisfied.

(3) The third is that of the women. After the Lord had been dead three days, the women, on the first day of the week, went to the sepulcher very early while it was yet dark. They found the stone rolled away. These women returned from the sepulcher and told all these things to the eleven–so Thomas was there and heard the Word.

A week later the Lord appeared to the disciples in the upper room; and although Thomas was not with them, yet the disciples had told him that they had seen the Lord. Yet, Thomas believed not.

2. Thomas had received attestations from God. Three distinct times God acclaimed Jesus as the Son of God.

(1) The first was at the baptism. There, as Christ had come forth from the waters, the heavens were opened and God spoke out of the blue saying: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased."

(2) The second was at the transfiguration, where God gave witness: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him" (Matt,

(3) The third was at the visit of the Greeks. Christ had said: "Father glorify Thy name," and then, out of the blue, came the voice of God saying: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again" (Joh_12:28).

3. Thomas had the attestations of the Old Testament. The Old Testament bore to Thomas, had he profited thereby, many wonderful and positive prophecies as to Christ. Details were written setting forth the birth, the life, the death and the resurrection of Christ. Thomas should have seen all of this coming to pass before his very eyes.

The Old Testament proclaimed in unmistakable terms that Jesus was the Son of God. Thomas had no excuse for doubt, he had every encouragement for faith.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR