Creator, Father, King #247

“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

THOMAS WAS UNDONE.

A week had passed since Jesus’ other disciples had reported—incredibly—seeing the risen Savior in a room in Jerusalem. Thomas, though, refused to believe unless he saw Jesus himself.

What a long week for Doubting Thomas!

Now, all the disciples, including Thomas, were gathered together again. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in their midst. Every ounce of Thomas’s skepticism, frustrations, and fears vanished in a single, glorious moment.

We can only imagine what the full scene must have been like. Did Thomas burst into tears? Did Thomas and Jesus share a heartfelt embrace? What was the reaction of the other disciples?

Scripture remains poignantly silent on many of the details. But it does record Thomas’s reply. Stumbling for words, the disciples’ resident cynic blurted out one of Scripture’s great confessions:

“My Lord and my God!”

What’s It Mean?

Thomas’s confession, which sounds quite similar to Peter’s great confession in Matthew 16:16 (see the July 15 devotion), was only five words long. But it tells us a great deal about his radical heart change.

By calling Jesus “my Lord and my God,” Thomas beautifully crowned Jesus as his heavenly King by acknowledging the Messiah’s oneness with God the Father and his sovereignty over Thomas’s life. Notice Thomas’s words and his posture toward Christ in that moment. It wasn’t enough for him to simply express joy that his friend had returned to life, free from the suffering of the Cross. No, Thomas had to come to a place of personal conviction, realizing that Jesus was not just a human messiah, but the incarnate Son of God who was worthy of his total allegiance.

What about you? Have you cried out “My Lord and my God” to Jesus? Have you humbly submitted your life to the risen Savior?

If you rightfully acknowledge Jesus as God, everything you read about him in Scripture will make sense. He will hold a proper place of worship in your heart. If you bow before him as Lord, you will gain a loving Master who will provide “rest for your souls” because his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:29-30).

Now What?

Whether for the first time or the one hundredth, confess that Jesus is your Lord and your God today!

Did You Know?

Thomas supposedly evangelized Parthia (modern-day Khorasan) and India before being martyred, but this comes from ancient extrabiblical sources and traditions that cannot be confirmed.