John 20:24-31 – My Lord and My God! (Divinity of Jesus)

John 20:24-31 – My Lord and My God! (Divinity of Jesus)

Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus had shown himself to them, we can speculate why that is. The other disciples told Thomas: We have seen the Lord! Yes, Jesus is risen and alive.

Thomas did not believe; he even sets a stand for what he would need to believe.

In verse 20 Jesus showed his hands and side to the disciples, and they were glad, to see Jesus, it was really him.

Thomas wants proof that Jesus is really risen, - Why did he not believe his friends? Not sure, - it might be that something in Thomas has to change before he can believe. Thomas was willing to die with Jesus back in chapter 11, in chapter 14 he also speaks up and asks where Jesus is going, when Jesus is saying he is leaving, - That leads to Jesus amazing explanation that” I am the way, and the truth and the life”. Thomas is bold and ask a question when most are quiet. Why then this unbelief now? When his friends say they have seen Jesus. Well could it be that like Mary Magdalene, the sorrow, the broken dream understanding of who Jesus is, the world as he saw it was crushed that could have made his heart hard and, that Thomas heart had to be softened, his eyes, ears open, - the work only God can do, In Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirt.

A note on questioning – it is a good thing to ask question to find the truth, to seek and find, to make your faith your own, that is a healthy and good quest. We all have to do that; we all have to answer the question Jesus asked “Who do you say that I am?”. And as John will say is the very purpose for writing his account of Jesus. That you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God, - and we will get back to that have life in his name.

(It can be unhealthy if not willing to find the truth, just being sceptic for sceptic’s sake – always asking but never arriving at that truth, total skepticism or classic is not really a think it is very hard to live out). (No, truth I make my own, = unhealthy). But we can see in the psalms we are welcome to cry out to God, to bring our frustrations and questions to God anger sadness, all our emotions to God. It is the best place to direct them, God is able, and has showed he loves people by sending Jesus.

Thomas sets his demands, and they are; not only to see but to touch Jesus wounds, to place his fingers in Jesus wounds. If not, he clam’s he will never believe that Jesus has risen.

Then 8 days pass, - for the first time I was wondering; what was does days like, all the ones that saw Jesus, glad and exited, are they trying to get Thomas to believe or what is happening, is Thomas sad moping in the corner, does he hope to see Jesus? We don’t know. But in Gods timing Jesus is very graces, he comes to the disciples again, - he passed by the locked doors again. And greets the disciples like he did the first time; “Peace be with you”. What is Thomas thinking at this point? What would you be thinking? And the other disciples, we told you, but you would not hear. Jesus meets Thomas right where he needs him to, and grants all his requests, Jesus say the verry same as Thomas demand he wanted to believe. Jesus invites Thomas to come near, and out your finger and see Jesus hands and put his hand in his wound in Jesus side. – This is mindboggling to me, and I am not sure I would like to do that – 11 days ago he was killed and got the very wounds. It does not say in the text that Thomas dose it, but he does respond: My Lord and my God.

Thomas is often known for his doubt and often I think not as much for his great confession that Jesus is his Lord and not only Lord the Son of God but that he is God. The very reason that Jesus got killed that He said he was God. Thomas is meet by Jesus, Thomas eyes, heart, ears open now to see who Jesus is: confess My Lord and my God. - Before we go on with Jesus’ response we have to stop and note that; Jesus does not correct Thomas. That means that Jesus is God, Jesus’ does not deny himself. Angels and other servants of God do correct people when they try to worship them, and say: don’t worship me I am servant myself. Jesus receives the worship and being called God. (theos). Like John said in his introduction, 1.1 The word was with God, and the word was God, + 1:14 the word of God became flesh and dwelt among us, we have seen his glory as og the only son of form the Father full of grace and truth. Jesus is truly God.

Jesus responds to Thomas, have you believed because you have seen me?  (It would seem so).

Jesus gives a massage to all that did not see him (Jesus) after the resurrection. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (Because Jesus is ascending and soon it will be the story of Jesus that will be told, and people have to respond; it this true, will I trust and believe – the Holy Spirt will still have to open the eyes of the people to respond in faith).

John uses Jesus’ statement as encouragement; do you believe? And expands it and state in verse 30 that Jesus did many other signs, that are not written in this book, but what John has written he did so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the anointed one the chosen one the coming king the one, the son of David, promised in the prophets and Psalms and Law). That You would believe…

Not only believe, that you might have life in his name. (I am the way the truth and the life). Not only life but abundant full life in Christ Jesus true life, everlasting life with Jesus. Walking in the truth, with the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirt.  

As Jesus said in chapter 3, born again, not to be condemned, or perish but have everlasting life and be saved by Jesus.

Have you made your faith your own? What made you believe? What do you believe about Jesus? Do you believe as Thomas testified that Jesus is Lord and God? And what about; what John wrote that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God? Do you have life in Jesus’ name?     

Jesus is showing the disciples so much grace, he died and rose for them and is still explaining to them, that he is truly alive, he meets the people where the need to be meet with who he is. And he sends the disciples out to do the same, and John did this in writing the amazing book of John to bear witness about Jesus, that many would come to know Jesus by his writing. An we are here reading it, and we have the possibility to get to know Jesus by Johns witness about him. And we can bear witness about Jesus in our life, with how we live, and share with people that Jesus is God, Lord and King. And Jesus is still saving people making people new by witness about him. The Holy Spirt is still working to open eyes of people, we can’t save or convince people, but Jesus can, the Holy Spirt can open the eyes of people as he did to you if you are in Christ Jesus.

You were once blind and now you see, a child of wrath, now a child adopted in to Gods family. 

We were death in our trespass and sin, now made alive in Christ Jesus, - by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and anticipating his return. To be fully with Jesus our lord God and savoir, until then we live in the power of the Holy Spiry – and with joy, life in and for Jesus Christ, as his ambassadors.