Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Is your podcaster MORE THAN a Knucklehead? S28e172 Jn20:26
Thomas, for sure, is MORE than a knucklehead. Jesus has every right to judge and punish him for his durable unbelief. So the big question is :
Does Jesus rightfully nail Thomas?
NO, Jesus took the nails FOR THOMAS.
Does Jesus rightfully nail Me?
NO, Jesus took the nails FOR ME.
Gotta listen to this one! then subscribe.
https://youtu.be/hbgbLXrrIGE
he Gospel of John
Right Youtube: UCNijvDWAn2Wv2KFun2AnvCA
Is your podcaster MORE THAN a Knucklehead? S28e172 Jn20:26
I have been mad at Thomas all yesterday and this morning
He has been given credit for “good doubt”: la dee dah, I’m just struggling with my faith a little bit. Genuine doubt. Faithful doubt. Asking real questions. Willing to consider other viewpoints. Humble asking.I do believe there is such a thing. BUT, Mr. Thomas is NOT THAT GUY.
I believe we should take his picture out of the dictionary on the “doubt” page, and put it on the UNBELIEF page. Why? What’s unbelief look like?
It resists leadership
It resists the protection of many counselors
It resists Fellowship of the body possibly
It forgets the previous intimacy offered by Jesus, common graces
It risks the harsher judgement of an increased access
We say: “doubting Thomas”—more than that: it is durable unbelief
He has spend 8 days, 24/7 with 20 people who have seen the LORD, personally. I’d imagine you couldn’t shut any one of them up, nor will you be able to shut me up on the day of my seeing Him. He is afflicted with durable unbelief and Jesus is right to judge HIM, Thomas for it and punish him for it. I compared him with JUDAS. Let’s see what happens.
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Putyour finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Thomas was DISBELIEVING, unbelieving state, positional faithlessness
Jesus comes through the door, with His new heavenly body.
If this was me, I’d give Thomas WRATH, judgment, time’s up, a talkingto. I’ve never been so mad at a biblical character.
What a whiner. I want FINGERS of faith. I want a hand inside Jesus’ thorax to BELIEVE.
I want not just SIGHT faith. I want not just TESTIMNONY of 20 people x 8 days faith. I want TOUCH faith. I want Interaction with Him PERSONALLY before I’ll move off my DURABLE UNBELIEF.
I’ve been so mad at THOMAS, and rightfully so. Thomas does way more than doubt. He durably unbelieves.
PAY attention to your anger—rightfully handled it can lead you to truth
Jesus has the right to be mad at Thomas. Judge. Punish. Tell him time’s up!
Does Jesus rightfully nail Thomas?
NO, Jesus took the nails FOR THOMAS
Grace grace grace. Unmerited favor. Thomas certainly doesn’t merit it.
He gives him what he wants. Perhaps what he needs
He lets the finger find the faith. Jesus lets the hand bring conviction
He sticks his whole hand in the suffered, gashed body.
Reach in here and move towards certainty
Place your fingers yes, but especially Entrust your soul to me
Bingo: My Lord and my God for the one durably believing Thomas.
THEN Jesus tells us what this has been about. Always the teacher:
Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The whole Bible is about BELIEF before SIGHT. Definition of Faith
Gaith is the trust in the PERSON of God before the PROMISES of God are evident.
It is the trust in God’s character before the clarity of circumstance.
It is being certain of Jesus when all you see is uncertainty.
This is the person who is happy in the Lord, favored and fortunate.
If you Do NOT have the durable unbelief of Thomas, then you are blessed
Jesus give the total 100% knucklehead—worse than a knucklehead Thomas
All that He needs for belief. Jesus is in the belief business
LET”S make this PERSONAL
My guess is that Thomas is not the only one God was unexplainably kind to
I wonder about what God has done for me,
What personal grace He Gave me to get me to BELIEF
what divine kindness to walk in belief,
what mercy to defend from unbelief
Maybe I was MORE of a knucklehead than Thomas.
Maybe His kindness to me was even more than Thomas.
Conclusion: Shut myself up. Put my hand over my mouth. Wasn’t I that guy? Wasn’t I the Thomas? Wrong about my belief?
Thomas for sure was MORE THAN A KNUCKLEHEAD Maybe I was too
Does Jesus rightfully nail Thomas?
NO, Jesus took the nails FOR THOMAS
Does Jesus rightfully nail Me?
NO, Jesus took the nails FOR ME