“24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His name” John 20:24-31.
John is the only Gospel to tell this dramatic story of Thomas. We all know that Thomas demands physical proof of Jesus’ resurrection, so a week later on another Sunday other than Easter Jesus again appears through closed doors to all of the remaining disciples. And in front of everyone gathered Jesus offered Thomas the proof he was looking for. Thomas was obviously satisfied and utters the name for Jesus that the Psalmist used for Yahweh — My Lord and My God: “22 You have seen, O Lord; do not be silent! O Lord, do not be far from me! 23 Wake up! Bestir yourself for my defense, for my cause, my God and my Lord” Psalm 35:22-23! Earlier in John’s Gospel the disciples gave Jesus a series of titles indicating their growing knowledge of who He truly is: “43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
Here at the end of the Gospel Thomas gives the definitive title for Jesus: Jesus is the LORD GOD!
Here the Gospel ends with the most remarkable affirmation of Jesus’ Divinity. At the beginning John told us that the Word was God, and now at the end of the Gospel he repeats it again, and blesses those who accept in on faith. The purpose of John’s Gospel has been fulfilled — we have come to see that Jesus is the Lord God, and that believing, we have life.
So let us pray in some of the oldest and most profound words of prayer — ever: Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Jesus said: ‘I and the Father are one’” John 10:30.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6.
“Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13.
“Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” 1 Corinthians 8:6.
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