Strange & Surprising Spread of the Gospel
A few summers ago, the girls and I traveled for the summer, a ‘girls’ getaway,’ and we chose a small island in Italy as our destination. As the anniversary of this journey approaches, memories flood my head, causing me to recall the beauty, tranquility, and flavor experienced. One specific memory of this island I recall connects to my faith and to the apostle Thomas.
We flew from Amsterdam to Naples, Italy and then ferried over to Ischia (the island chosen). The Mediterranean Sea connects to the Tyrrhenian Sea, the water that laps onto the shore of Ischia. Now, I would never proclaim to be a good swimmer like some, but in the water off the shoreline of the island, I found a wonderful blessing. Daily, we enjoyed the sunshine and beaches the island offered, and within the water, I found that I could lay back, resting in the water, buoyant and floating with ease, unhindered by any turbulence. Never before had I experienced a buoyancy such as I enjoyed off the island of Ischia.
It is a fact—Oftentimes, the Lord uses the strangest and most-surprising ways to spread the gospel. Just look at the life and death of both apostles: Thomas and Paul.
The first time we meet Thomas is when the brother of Mary and Martha has died, the event leading to the miracle of Jesus raising His friend Lazarus back to life. Right after Lazarus’ death, we read the first words of the apostle Thomas recorded.
(The Gospel According to John 11: 11b-16 NASB)
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep;
but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”
The disciples then said to Him,
“Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
Now Jesus had spoken of his death,
but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep.
So Jesus then said to them plainly,
“Lazarus is dead,
and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there,
so that you may believe;
but let us go to him.”
Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus,
[‘Didymus’ means ‘twin’]
said to his fellow disciples,
“Let us also go,
so that we may die with Him.”
As we know, the four-day delay of Jesus was not an accident but was purposeful for the spread of the gospel. With the voiced words of Thomas: “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.” we see what Thomas thought about Jesus going to the house of Mary, Martha, and the tomb of Lazarus.
Thomas thought this was a suicide mission!
However (and the point that looms most large)—Thomas was willing to go with Jesus—even while resigned to his fate, his own death, if necessary. We must ask ourselves: Are we?
We often criticize the apostle Thomas for his doubt.
“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus,
(The Gospel According to John 20: 24-25 NASB)
was not with them when Jesus came.
[after the resurrection of Jesus]
So the other disciples were saying to him,
“We have seen the Lord!”
But he [Thomas] said to them,
“Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails,
and put my finger into the place of the nails,
and put my hand into His side,
I will not believe.”
Is this not the same words we still hear today when we testify about Jesus?
Do we evangelize to help those who need to SEE Jesus and believe?
“After eight days His disciples were again inside,
(The Gospel According to John 20: 26-29 NASB)
and Thomas with them.
Jesus came,
the doors having been shut,
and stood in their midst and said,
“Peace be with you.”
Then He said to Thomas,
“Reach here with your finger, and see My hands;
and reach here your hand and put it into My side;
and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Thomas answered and said to Him,
“My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him,
“Because you have seen Me, have you believed?
Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
In studying the apostles’ lives after Jesus ascended back to heaven, history records how many died as martyrs, including Thomas, who was martyred in AD 72. Prior to his death, Thomas traveled to India to spread the gospel. His work is still celebrated today because of its missionary, gospel impact.
Historical records show how one of his fingers ended up in Iraq, how his skull was located on the island of Patmos, and how the remains of his body was moved to Italy, to the Cathedral of Saint Thomas.
Maybe you are reading and wonder: How does the anniversary of a summer holiday to Italy connect? & Why does the life witness and martyrdom of Thomas matter?
Thomas was willing to go with Jesus—wherever Jesus asked him to go. This life-journey led Thomas to Italy.
Oftentimes, the Lord uses the strangest and most-surprising ways to spread the gospel.
When facing his own death for the cause of Christ, it was the apostle Paul who wrote—
“the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives,
(The Letter of Paul to the Philippians 1: 17-18 NASB)
thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
What then?
Only that in every way,
whether in pretense or in truth,
Christ is proclaimed;
and in this I rejoice.
Yes, I will rejoice,”
We are reminded of these and others as we celebrate the Day of the Christian Martyr.
God surely does use strange and surprising ways to spread the gospel.
- We must be faithful, come what may.
- We must be willing to go.
- We must be willing to be a ‘living sacrifice’ for Jesus, our Lord.