SHARING OUR FAITH IN JESUS may be difficult, for a lot of reasons. One set of issues has to do with us—we don’t quite know how to explain salvation, and are nervous about trying; we feel as though this is something more important than we can trust ourselves with. We might mess it up; or, maybe we really never have carefully examined our own salvation, neither from personal experience, nor from an informed biblical perspective. Another set of issues has to do with the hearer—first of all, maybe they won’t even listen; next, if they listen, maybe they’ll argue, or perhaps ask questions; or, they may accept on the spot, and need follow-up that is beyond our knowledge or sphere of relationships.
The overarching issue is that this is a matter of both faith and belief, and they are intertwined. We can’t believe without faith; we can’t have faith without knowing what we are believing in. If we can solve these two issues, we can solve the others. To a great degree, these are the same issues that faced all twelve of the Apostles. They believed in Jesus, but what did they believe about him that they believed in? Judas Iscariot had believed in Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, but felt that he’d lost his way. Judas saw Jesus as the Messiah-King come to restore the nation Israel, and when Jesus failed Judas’ vision, he betrayed him—he’d lost faith in what he believed about Jesus, and he lost faith in Jesus. “Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” (Matt. 26:14-16)
The other apostles, who later included Matthias, Judas’ replacement, believed in Jesus, and because of the signs and wonders they had seen and participated in, believed that he was the son of God. But their faith in Jesus has been violently challenged—he died on the cross that fateful Friday—and so what were they now to believe about him?
Things began to change by Sunday. Luke and John both record that it was Mary Magdalene who was first at the empty tomb. Luke tells us additionally that Mary was accompanied by several other women. They all related their astonishing news to the apostles of having seen Jesus, “But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.” (Luke 24:11) In this version, Peter ran to the tomb apparently alone. (Luke 24:12).
In John’s version, Peter and John, having heard Mary Magdalene’s terrified concern about the empty tomb, but with no knowledge of his resurrection, rushed to the tomb. Peter, arriving last, goes in first; John follows. Both see the linen strips and burial cloth, and John says of himself, in the third person, “He saw and believed.” (John 20:8) Scripture explains, “They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” (Luke 24:9) This happens Sunday morning, the first day of the Jewish week. At least two of the twelve begin to find hope, and their beliefs about and in Jesus begin to change, and to affect those around them.
Then, radical change begins. “On the evening of that first day of the week, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:19-20) Together, they saw the wounds in his hands and side, and much of what Jesus had told them earlier about his death they now begin to understand—and with this, not only their belief, but their faith, bends towards a paradigm shift. The door to the kingdom of heaven that they had glimpsed open before them now and again earlier is now not only open, but opening wider, and they are being wrenched through it by an irresistible force.
But Thomas “was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’” (John 20:25) Luke includes Thomas’ nickname, “Didymus,” (John 20:24) for posterity. This could mean that he has a twin brother; it could also mean that he is double-minded—the latter definition seems to fit with what follows. “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 it.” (John 20:25) A week goes by, and we wonder what Thomas is thinking and feeling. Is he adamant and vocal in his disbelief, or morose and quiet? Are the rest of the disciples giving him head space and heart space, or are they steadily and relentlessly trying to convince him? Or does their individual joy and their collective demeanor begin to create a tenuous environment for his belief to incubate? This is mere speculation, but what follows next is not.
Jesus, not just the master of the moment, but the perfect moment, comes to Thomas. “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27) Thomas believes. “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) This is the first time in Luke’s gospel that the Greek word *”kurios” is used in its meaning as “divine.” This is the first time that Didymus has actually really seen Jesus, and we are led to wonder if he has always doubted until now. And then Jesus says, “Because you have seen me, you have believed.” (John 20:29a)
So we return to where we started. Sharing our faith is difficult. Our belief experience is not enough, as powerful as it was to bring about our salvation, and as precious as it remains to our daily pilgrimage, is not always enough to convince another person. Thomas did not believe that Jesus lived beyond death, even though the weight of testimony from what his brothers and sisters in the faith had gone through was so collectively overwhelming for them. He could only be satisfied through personal experience. And so it is. People may be swayed by group behavior, but each one comes to faith as a personal matter between themselves and the Lord. Our individual and community expression of faith has a certain weight of influence, but ultimately each person will only be convinced by the Lord himself. And we need to know that he is fully capable of doing exactly that, and we must rest in that fact.
Consider Jesus’ statement in the aftermath of this scene. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29b) We have a role to play in representing Jesus, and it needs to be an informed role. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom. 10:14-15)
We all need to be able to understand and teach the word of God to others, for it is the life-line they have been seeking, even if they don’t know it. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) Our personal testimony, as well as the testimony shown by the way we live, is a critically important aspect of telling Jesus’ story. It becomes very powerful when it is coupled with God’s living word. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12)
Just remember a few things to guide you in sharing your faith. One is not biblical, but it is appropriate: “You catch more flies with honey then you do with vinegar.” This, however, is biblical: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Pet. 3:15)
If you’re concerned about what you might, or might not, say, listen to Jesus: “Do not worry about what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:11-12) And above all, fully understand that salvation is not part of your job description; you just happen to know who initiates and completes this miracle: “Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Heb. 12:2)
Q. When was the last time I shared my faith in Jesus with a non-believer?
*Strong’s 2962.
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