Thomas said Jesus is my Lord and my God

“My Lord and my God” (John 20:28)

These five words record Thomas’ reaction when he first encountered the resurrected Lord Jesus. Eight days or so before, he had point blank refused to believe the word of 10 others on the resurrection:

“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).

But when he saw for himself, Thomas’ scepticism vanished and he was moved to worship. What do we learn from Thomas about a relationship with the Lord Jesus?

It is personal: “my Lord and my God”. The Christian message, or gospel, is not so much the offer of a religion, but an invitation to a wonderful relationship – a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. God receives into His family everyone who receives His Son (John 1:12).

It involves submission: “my Lord”. Thomas instinctively recognised that the resurrection was a demonstration of power – if Jesus has power over death, then what does He not have power over? The Bible says that “He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36) and that there will come a day when we’ll all (willingly or otherwise) bow before Him (Philippians 2:10-11). It’s only natural then that to receive the Lord Jesus involves recognising His authority and doing what He says.

It’s an adoring relationship: “my God”. Thomas worshipped Jesus as God. The Bible contains examples of people refusing to accept worship because they knew it was misplaced (e.g. Acts 14:12-15; Revelation 19:10). We aren’t to get the idea that because Jesus is the Son of God, that He is somehow inferior to the Father. The Lord Jesus unashamedly taught that “all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father” (John 5:23). It is never out of place to worship the Lord Jesus as God.

The terms of the Gospel are striking: bow to Jesus as your Lord and God now, and you will be blessed with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). The alternative is stark: refuse Him and miss out forever (1 Peter 4:17-18).

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