Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Lordship of Jesus Christ - St Thomas Day

Bible Reading: John 20: 24 - 29

Key verse:  28

John 20:28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

DEVOTION

Apostle Thomas helps us believe in Christ by giving us the most exalted personal testimony of Jesus’s deity: “My Lord and my God!” . In verse 27, after saying to the eleven, including Thomas, “Peace be with you,” Jesus says to Thomas directly, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Besides the grace of Jesus in giving Thomas more evidence than he deserved, two things are striking.
The first and most obvious is the height to which Thomas soared in his believing. Nobody else in this Gospel said, “Jesus, you are my Lord and my God.” The greatest personal testimony spoken in this Gospel belongs to Thomas. Surely “my Lord” paired with “my God” does not mean a polite “sir” or a mere earthly “master.” This is Thomas in genuine humility saying, “I’m not my own. I am not my master and lord. I am bought. I am owned. I am subject. I have no authority anymore in myself. It belongs entirely to Jesus, my Lord. And more than that, he is my God, my Creator.” If previously Jesus was his friend, miracle performing leader and great teacher now he is his Lord and his God. That is the first and most obvious striking thing about Thomas’s response in verse 28 — the height to which Thomas soared in his believing: “My Lord and my God!”
The second striking thing is that there is no record that he touched Jesus. Thomas demanded the evidence — more than he needed or deserved. In abounding mercy, Jesus gave it to him. And he didn’t use it. What are we to make of that? Thomas’s faith was ultimately the work of divine grace (miracle), not merely the result of human reasoning or accumulated evidence. To be sure, believing is based on evidence, especially the evidence of eyewitness testimony. As John said in 1 John 1:3, “That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” So, this living, believing fellowship with the Father and the Son, based on the testimony of the apostles, is a divine miracle, not a calculation or mental exercise. So, when Jesus says to Thomas in John 20:29, “Have you believed because you have seen me?” the answer is, “Yes, but seeing me in the flesh was not decisive.” And Thomas knew it. He knew in that instant that he didn’t need to touch Jesus. “This battle is over. I don’t need to see anymore. I don’t need to touch. I’ve been given new eyes. Everything is changed. My Lord and my God!” So now it’s in that light we are encouraged by what follows in verse 29, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This includes us at this time. Why? Because the blessing of believing is a divine miracle that comes through the testimony of eyewitnesses. Let us remember how Jesus prayed in John 17:20. He says, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”
The composite testimony of the Gospel of John and the whole New Testament is the means by which the miracle of a believing heart comes into existence and perseveres. Thomas thought he needed more evidence than the testimony of ten reliable friends who said, “We have seen the Lord.” But he didn’t. You don’t either. What he needed was a miracle: “My Lord and my God!” May the fellowship of believers, and the daily meditation of scripture transform our hearts so that, like Thomas, we joyfully confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and our God. May His divine grace enable us to overcome our human tendencies to be our own masters and follow the example set by St Thomas.

PRAYER

Jesus our loving and gracious savior forgive us our ignorance and arrogance. Help us value the spiritual privileges that you have afforded us and grant us grace to humbly glorify and submit to your Lordship now and forever. Amen

Thought for the DAY

We have a creator who loves and sustains us regardless of our shortcomings. Will you permit Him to be your Master and Lord? Is there any other person who is more worthy than the one who made us in His image?


Mary Vijaya Mathew. Epiphany Mar Thoma Church, New York

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