Perplexed, But Not in Despair
Teachers
Lesson Summary
Clint Davison taught on the apostle Thomas and the danger of being defined by a single moment of doubt. He began by establishing Thomas's character as a fiercely loyal and thoughtful apostle—one who was willing to return to Jerusalem with Jesus even unto death (John 11:16) and who asked clarifying questions when he didn't understand Jesus's teaching (John 14:5). However, one moment of doubt when Thomas refused to believe the other apostles' testimony about the resurrection has overshadowed his entire legacy. The teacher used 2 Corinthians 4:8 as a framework, where Paul writes that believers can be "perplexed, but not in despair," acknowledging that doubt and questioning are normal parts of the Christian experience. When Jesus appeared to Thomas a week after the resurrection, He didn't berate or ridicule him; instead, Jesus compassionately provided the evidence Thomas needed to believe, inviting him to touch His hands and side. Rather than condemning Thomas for his faithlessness, Jesus extended grace and gave him what he required to move from doubt to faith. The lesson emphasized that while moments of doubt may come, they need not define us, and that Jesus meets us in our uncertainty with love and the evidence we need to believe.
Key Scriptures
But he said to them, 'Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails and my hand into his side, I will not believe.'
He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it into my side. Do not be faithless, but believing.'