My Lord and my God

Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God.” John 20:28

Though it is Christmas Eve as I write, it shouldn’t be too unusual to think about the risen Christ. After all, the facts of Christmas and the joy we celebrate are brought into full bloom once Jesus, cruelly crucified, rises triumphantly from the darkness of the tomb in which He was buried.


The baby Jesus fulfilled many prophecies which the Jews understood to apply to the coming Messiah. What He would do is the cause of celebration. Who He truly was would come to be recognized over the course of His adulthood, ministry and finally His death and resurrection.

Some doubted Jesus was the Messiah, wishing a personal crusader who would banish the ills of society, set them from the Roman occupation, and restore Israel as top dog in the world. Those who thought that way misunderstood God’s message about His salvation. It was not about national honor, it was about the lives of every person. God’s salvation is meant to change the life of individuals, not glorify a particular country.

At any rate, the scene we have is the disciples gathered in an upper room after Jesus has appeared to them following His resurrection. Thomas had been absent and told them he would not believe Jesus was alive until He saw the actual wounds in his hands and side.

Jesus was not unwilling to accommodate Him, though He does upbraid Thomas a bit, saying, “reach and thrust your hand into My side and become no unbeliever but a believer!” It seems apparent Thomas didn’t actually touch the wounds, but immediately responds, “My Lord and my God!”

There are few clearer utterances that indicate the disciples’ final understanding of Jesus’ nature. Thomas actually meant…”You are my God!” Some, trying to minimize what Thomas said, tell us it is merely an interjection, an exclamation of surprise such as, “Oh my God!”

Trouble is, that is not how Jews spoke. To use God’s name “in vain” was to break one of the Ten Commandments. Jews of that time did not even write out the name of God, but substituted “the Lord” anytime the actual “name” given in the Old Testament was meant to be used. Today many orthodox Jews still write “God” as “G_d”, wanting to avoid violating the Ten Commandments.

“Ok”, some will say. ‘Thomas might have believed Jesus was “his God”, but he could have been wrong.” Yes, He could have. But the preponderance of the entire New Testament indicates all the disciples knew Jesus to be God. And, more to the point, Jesus Himself stated His deity more than once.

This particular encounter, though, disallows us the “Thomas was wrong” argument. If Thomas blasphemed by calling Jesus God, one of those nice devoted Jewish men in the room would have stood up and corrected the boy. And, even more importantly, Jesus, their Master, should have shut down Thomas’ worship immediately. (We find Paul doing that later in the book of Acts when people want to worship him following certain miracles.)

But, instead of rebuking Thomas’ exclamation of Jesus’ deity, He actually commends it, saying, “You have believed because You have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing.”

So, for those who want to make Jesus out to be a great spiritual leader, a wonderful religious teacher, but not God, this presents quite a problem. If He is not God, but accepts the wrong-minded worship of Thomas, His character immediately comes into question. Even I, as much as I enjoy adulation, would probably stop a crowd before they started gathering to sing hymns about me.

This little conversation between Jesus and Thomas is so important. It tells us that Thomas believed Jesus was God, that Jesus claimed He was God, and that we, in the future who would not see Him directly, were also to believe He is God. To believe He is good, but not God simply does not fly.

Don’t be afraid to acknowledge Jesus is God. Though it is difficult to understand, it bring hope where hope was once a phantom. Yes, it makes His commands more demanding, but it makes every promise more certain, His presence more reasonable, and His teaching more believable. And, it means, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the forgiveness He promised at the cross is a done deal. As I accept the miracle of forgiveness, living it out in this present world, I am free before God.

It is a demanding road, following Jesus. But it is the most certain road available. And it all began when the angels announced the there was a child who was born “unto us!” Let’s live out the wonders of this Child born to be King, the God of all.