God has given us the key, the master key to understanding everything in life'
Jesus, portrayed by Henry Ian Cusick in 2003's 'The Gospel of John,' confronts Doubting Thomas. (Courtesy Gospel of John Ltd.)
Jesus, portrayed by Henry Ian Cusick in 2003's 'The Gospel of John,' confronts Doubting Thomas. (Courtesy Gospel of John Ltd.)
But the story of one of Jesus' remembered disciples is getting a brand-new look, as the climax of his personal story is broadcasting a hidden yet astonishingly wonderful message of hope for people who have their doubts about God and his plan of salvation.
The good news was discussed this week on "Prove All Things," as hosts Mike James and Jeff Reed interviewed Joe Kovacs, author of the new best-selling book, "Reaching God Speed: Unlocking the Secret Broadcast Revealing the Mystery of Everything."
"Here's a simple story from the New Testament that everyone knows about," began Kovacs, whose book reveals hundreds of hidden meanings and veiled prophecies in Scripture secretly embedded at the parable level, since Jesus "did not say anything to them without using a parable" (Matthew 13:34 NIV).
"There's one apostle I do remember very well, and that is Thomas, and people know him as 'Doubting Thomas,'" as he famously doubted that Jesus rose from the dead until he saw the risen Savior with his own eyes.
"And perhaps the most famous moment of him in the Bible is when Jesus died and rose from the grave, the apostles were assembled together one week and Jesus appeared to them. But Thomas wasn't there. The doubting person wasn't there."
Scripture itself indicates "Thomas … was not with the disciples when Jesus came" (John 20:24 NIV).
"But he was present the second time," Kovacs continued, as the the Bible says: "A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them" (John 20:26 NIV).
The Bible notes that while his fellow apostles told Thomas they had seen the risen Christ, Thomas doubted their testimony, stating: "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe" (John 20:25 NKJV).