My Lord and my God

Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus replied, “You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:24-29)

The full version of this passage is here. It has some very strong messages in it and can be a turning point for us in our understanding of Jesus.  Thomas actually put his finger into the wounds of Jesus. This quelled his doubt. Just before this Jesus had said to him ‘Peace be with you’ and then ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’

It emphasises for us that there has been a physical resurrection, that Jesus literally got up after being dead and that he walked about. Something seemingly impossible for someone who had been wounded and killed so thoroughly, but to God everything is possible.

To help us believe this we have the witness statements of those that saw him. John the author of this gospel is one of the disciples that met the risen Lord. We can say as St Paul says in one of his letters "We don't rely on made up stories" and it is evident that he made close enquiry into this when he first became a Christian as he says elsewhere "I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the scriptures; that he was buried, that he was raised to life three days later, as written in the scriptures; that he appeared to Peter and then to all twelve apostles. Then he appeared to more than five hundred of his followers at once, most of whom are still alive, although some have died. Then he appeared to James, and afterwards to all the apostles." Paul knew most of these people and his summary is the result of careful enquiry. 

The resurrection is the essential proof that Jesus is the Son of God. If there is no resurrection there could still be doubt. We might say as the centurion did that "Jesus was a good man" but because Jesus rose from the dead we can go far beyond this and say Jesus is the Son of God that only God could snatch victory from the closing jaws of sin and death.

The reading also speaks powerfully about the suffering of Jesus. As any nurse will tell you there is great intimacy in touching the wounds of another. It excites compassion in the most stony hearted of us. Thomas must have felt that in touching the wounds of Jesus. WE can imagine with some certainty that Thomas was dissolved as he saw at close sight what Jesus had gone through. No wonder Thomas said to Jesus "My Lord and my God."

What is important to remember also today is that Jesus gives the disciples the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit transforms them from fearful timidity, after all they had been described as "cowering," into people who can boldly share their faith. The Christian faith is about people whose lives can be transformed. When invited God's Holy Spirit comes into our life - He stands by us as our advocate and strengthener.

.... I pray today for all readers of this blog, wherever we are in our faith may we be strengthened by what we have read, let us be inspired by Thomas words and say to Jesus "My Lord and my God."