From Doubt to Belief

John 20:24-29

 

The Mystery of Missions in Southwest India

As we know, India is the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism. Naturally, Hindu temples are found everywhere. However, strangely enough, there are ancient churches in the southwestern region of India. When Portuguese Christians arrived there in the 14th century, they found that churches already existed. Even when the Syrian Church sent missionaries in the 3rd century, they discovered people who already believed in Jesus.

How did these people come to believe in Jesus, and how were these churches established? Our knowledge of missionary history is extremely limited because we rely on surviving written records. Although not everything is documented, the history of missions lives within the legacy of countless Christians throughout history. How did the 1st-century church begin? It started when 120 disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit in Mark’s Upper Room on Pentecost. That is how the first church in Jerusalem was established. However, as stated in Acts 1:8, Jesus did not want His disciples to simply stay put; He wanted them to go to the ends of the earth to be His witnesses.

 

Footsteps Toward the Ends of the Earth and the Traces of Thomas

Where, then, were the "ends of the earth"? At that time, it likely referred to unknown territories or regions known only through legends. For those in the Mediterranean, Hispania (modern-day Spain) was the end of the earth. India, too, would have been considered the edge of the known world. There are even papers suggesting that Nestorianism (Gyeonggyo) reached China by the 4th century and that a Nestorian cross was unearthed at Bulguksa Temple in Korea. In the Gyeongsang-do region of Korea, a statue known as the "Thomas Statue" was discovered, bearing inscriptions suspected to be the Hebrew word for "Thomas."

What is certain is that the St. Thomas Memorial Church was built in southern India. Even today, about 20% of the local population believes they are descendants of those who heard the Gospel directly from Thomas. While it remains a historical mystery how Christian churches were established in a stronghold of Hinduism and Buddhism, the apocryphal "Acts of Thomas" records that Thomas drew India in a lot-casting and eventually arrived there.

 

The Story of the Acts of Thomas: Building a Heavenly Palace Instead of an Earthly One

According to the Acts of Thomas, he was hired to build a palace for King Gudnaphar in northern India. He received a vast sum of money from the king for the construction, but Thomas began distributing it to the poor. When the king later asked about the progress, Thomas replied, "Only the roof remains," prompting the king to provide even more gold and money to hasten the completion.

However, Thomas used all that money for the poor as well. While the king believed his palace was nearly finished, the funds had actually been spent on charity. This was soon discovered. Furious that Thomas had spent the money without building the palace, the king intended to execute him. The king’s beloved brother, Gad, initially agreed with the execution, but he suddenly fell ill and died.

In heaven, the deceased brother Gad walked with an angel and saw a magnificent palace. When he asked to live there, the angel told him that the palace already had an owner: his brother, the king. The angel explained, "This is the palace Thomas built for your brother in heaven." Gad then begged to be sent back to the world. Upon returning to life, Gad went to the king and asked to buy that heavenly palace from him. Perplexed, the king asked, "What palace do I have?" Gad told him of the palace he had seen in heaven. Through this event, the king came to believe in Jesus through Thomas, and many from the Brahmin class began to embrace the faith.

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Jesus’ Love that Surpasses Rational Doubt

Since the Acts of Thomas is apocryphal, we do not need to accept its contents as 100% factual. However, it is clear that Thomas went as far as India to preach the Gospel, resulting in the establishment of churches there. What kind of disciple was Thomas that he lived a life dedicated to preaching as far as India? Based on this fact alone, he sounds like a man of great faith, but in reality, Thomas was a man of doubt. Our scripture reading today illustrates this clearly.

The risen Jesus appeared to His disciples on the first day after the Sabbath. The disciples, trapped in fear and disappointment, were meeting in secret. Though the doors were locked, Jesus appeared among them. But who was missing? Yes, Thomas. When Thomas returned, the disciples told him they had seen the risen Lord. But Thomas did not believe them. How can a dead person live again? Thus, Thomas said:

"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

Thomas’s reaction was actually quite natural. Is it not rational? Is it not logical? Since a ghost could have appeared to deceive the other disciples, he insisted on seeing and touching for himself. Thomas is often seen as the representative of unbelief. However, in my view, his doubt was understandable. A desire to verify through one's own eyes and hands is not necessarily a bad thing.

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A Personal Visitation for Thomas and the Importance of Faith

Eight days later, when Thomas was with them, Jesus again came through locked doors. After greeting them with peace, He spoke directly to Thomas:

"Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Jesus appeared this time solely for Thomas. He wanted the doubting Thomas to have faith. He urged him to see with his eyes and touch with his hands so that he would become a believer rather than an unbeliever.

We often think that believing is optional, but the Bible identifies a lack of faith as sin. When the father of a demon-possessed child asked Jesus, "If you can do anything, have pity on us and help us," Jesus rebuked him:

"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes."

The father then begged Jesus to forgive his unbelief. Furthermore, Romans 14 teaches that everything that does not come from faith is sin. Thus, God considers our having faith to be deeply important. This is why Jesus appeared personally to Thomas—so that he could believe in the Resurrection.

 

A Great Confession: "My Lord and My God"

Thomas then makes a magnificent confession:

"My Lord and my God!"

Friends, this is not an easy confession to make. There may be some among us who cannot yet call God "Father," or call Jesus "Lord." Truly meditate on this confession. Sit quietly, kneel, and call upon the name of Jesus. There is immense emotion and grace in simply calling His name. There is power and authority in that name. Even though Thomas had followed Jesus for so long, it was only now that he finally confessed Him as "Lord" and "My God." The first sign of faith is calling God "Father."

However, Jesus then says something quite shocking—words that almost seem to embarrass Thomas right after his passionate confession:

"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

As a child, I didn't understand this. Thomas believed because he saw. What does it mean that those who believe without seeing are "blessed"? Is there a ranking in faith? But after studying the Word and coming to know the Holy Spirit, I began to understand.

 

The Essence of Faith: The Testimony of the Spirit

What is the basis of our faith? For Thomas, it was his eyes and the sensation in his fingers. He wanted physical evidence. Without it, he refused to believe. Once those conditions were met, he believed. But what is the essence of our faith? How did we come to believe? Is there anyone here who has touched Jesus or seen Him with their eyes? As a pastor, I have never seen Jesus physically, nor have I put my finger in His side. Yet, I believe and confess Jesus as my Lord and my God. How is this possible?

The secret is found in John 20:22:

"Receive the Holy Spirit."

That is it. The reason we can have faith is that we have experienced the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot believe in Jesus. 1 Corinthians 2 teaches that the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. We cannot believe in Jesus based on His outward appearance; if we could, we might mistake the actor from The Passion of the Christ for the real Jesus. We believe not by looking at His physical form, but because the Spirit of Jesus—the Holy Spirit—dwells in us. Consequently, faith based on sight and touch is limited, but faith born of the Spirit is whole and essential. That is why Jesus commands us to receive the Holy Spirit.

 

Conclusion: Becoming Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth

We do not live the Christian life by our own strength. If we try, we will fail. When we think we can do something on our own, we stumble. I have been in church-planting ministry for over 10 years; everything I tried to do by my own will failed, but everything done through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit succeeded. Our faith must be strictly governed by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, we must receive the Holy Spirit. Those who have already received Him should pray for His fullness. Paul commanded us, "Do not get drunk on wine... instead, be filled with the Spirit." Yet, we often show little interest in the Holy Spirit. When we neglect Him, we become "cowardly" Christians—people who betray the Lord at critical moments or hesitate in their faith, wavering between God and the world.

We must receive the Holy Spirit. We must pray for His fullness. The moment we let go of that spiritual tension, our faith quickly turns into a "fleshly" or superficial faith—a mere shell. Let us pray fervently today. During our New Year's Eve service, we will have a time of praise and prayer seeking the Holy Spirit. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit descends upon you. May we all experience the Holy Spirit and move from doubt to faith, from cowardice to boldness, and from hesitation to decision. Let us pray together.