WEEK ONE – ART FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
Insights on Doubting Thomas: John 20:19-30 (NIV)
Note to Group Leader and Participants: In this passage, Jesus gives the Apostle Thomas permission to raise questions, to doubt, to challenge. Jesus goes to Thomas and tells him to come and see that He is really present. Christ is not angry about Thomas’ disbelief. In our journey of life, we too may question or doubt our faith. In this passage, Jesus reassures us that He will be there for us when we are ready and open to His presence.
Week 1: You will review terms used in the passage, listen to the passage and follow your guide’s suggestions as you view the art associated with it. At the end, you may want to share your thoughts based on the guide’s questions.
Week 2: You will read the passage together and discuss the questions which follow the reading.
Week 3: You will read the closing reflection, listen to the song associated with it and discuss together the final discussion question.
WEEK ONE – ART FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION
Insights on Doubting Thomas: John 20:19-30 (NIV)
NOTE FOR GROUP LEADER: While allowing the group to view the artwork, Unbelief of St. Thomas by Giuseppe Paserri, the group leader will read or have the audio recording of the passage from John 20:19-30. In preparation for this reading, the group will discuss and reflect on the terms and historical information provided under “Terms to Understand and Discuss.” After discussing the terms, the group will silently reflect on the art and then the passage will be read while they view the art. The artwork will either be projected on a screen or printed out for easier viewing. The passage is printed below for further review, if desired. Follow the steps below:
Step One: Terms to Understand and Discuss:
Thomas (aka Didymus meaning twin): Thomas was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Thomas is mentioned several times in the Gospel of John. He is recognized most notably in the passage where he doubts that Jesus has risen: “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.” (John 20:25).
What is the first day of the week biblically? Sunday has been regarded as the first day of the week by both Christians and Jews. In Jewish tradition, the Bible is clear that God rested on the seventh day of Creation, the Sabbath (Saturday), the day of rest.
Faith: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)
Doubt: (Jesus had just withered a fig tree for not having fruit and the disciples asked them how is it possible for the fig tree to wither so quickly.) Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.” (Mt. 21:21 NIV)
The difference between doubt and unbelief: “…doubt is uncertainty, disbelief while unbelief is an absence (or rejection) of belief, especially religious belief. As a verb, doubt is to lack confidence in; to disbelieve, question, or suspect. (wikidiff.com)
Holy Spirit: Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is God, as the third person of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is referred to as “the Lord, the Giver of Life” in the Nicene Creed, the statement of beliefs of Christians which was compiled during the first Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. (The complete Nicene Creed is printed at the end of Week I after the passage from John 20: 19-30. See below.)
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives? The Holy Spirit is teacher, counselor, advocate and helper, the source of wisdom, revelation and power. The Spirit distributes spiritual gifts among each believer. They are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophesy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues, interpreting of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NIV)
The Holy Spirit dwells in believers. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, NIV)
Step Two: Art for Reflection (Items needed: Artwork)
Group leader begins by saying: “Relax with the art. While listening to the passage below from John 20: 19-30, reflect on the artwork: Unbelief of St. Thomas by Giuseppe Paserri. Let yourself be drawn into the artwork and reflect on how you would react under these circumstances. Take a few minutes just to reflect on the art. Consider where we are, what has happened, why we are there and the impact of that moment. (Group Leader gives the group about three minutes of silence for the group to consider and meditate on the visual impact of the art.) At the end of the silence, go to Step Three.
Step Three: (Items needed: Artwork, Passage from John 20: 19-30 which is printed below, questions for discussion and reflection.)
The group leader reads or plays the passage from John 20: 19-30 while the group listens and continues to reflect on the artwork. After the reading, the group can discuss and reflect on any or all of the following questions.
- In the Art: where are we? What has happened? Why are we there? What is the impact of that moment?
- What thoughts did you have as you viewed the art and then listened to the passage?
- Who do you think are the people in the artwork? What do you think they are saying? Why?
- Which one is Thomas? What do you think Thomas is feeling, thinking and saying? Why?
- The words in the artwork say “Infer Digitum Tuum Huc” which means “Put your finger here.” Jesus is telling this to Thomas. Why do you think He said this to Thomas? What is the impact of this encounter in Thomas’ life?
- Were you drawn into the art as a participant or observer? Where were you? How did you react? What emotions did you experience? What is the artwork saying to you?
- Does this encounter between Thomas and Jesus speak to you? If so, how? If not, why not?
- What other thoughts do you have after having heard the passage and reflected on the artwork?
NOTE TO GROUP LEADER: At the end of the session, you may want to allow the group to have a few moments for open commentary and thoughts about the session and what it may have meant for them.
John 20: 19-30 (NIV)
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “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.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of John’s Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.