Page 17 - October 2024 - Truth & Tidings

again, apparently in the same place, with The Declaration
the same locked doors. The Lord would Thomas thought he would need to see
appear the same way and with the same and feel. And the Lord Jesus invited him
greeting. But this time, something was
different. “And after eight days again his to do both. But Thomas was not as big a
3
disciples were within, and Thomas with doubter as he thought, nor as some allege.
them” (v26). This time, the doubter was There is no indication that he actually
there. Yet as strong as Thomas’ doubts touched Jesus’ wounds, since the Lord
were, he did not let them keep him away replied, “Because thou hast seen me [not
from the Lord’s people. touched me], thou hast believed?” (v29).
And then it happened. “Then came He did not need anything more than the
Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in presence and words of the Savior. Based
on what Thomas just witnessed, it was ob-
the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.” vious that Jesus hears everything, sees ev-
It was an exact repeat of the week before.
Everything was the same, just as his fel- erything, and knows everything. The only
low disciples had told him. Clearly, they logical conclusion was the declaration
had seen the Lord, and now Thomas did Thomas made, “And Thomas answered
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also. There was no doubt about it. Christ and said unto him, my Lord and my God”
was risen. (v28). Ironically, one of the strongest af- 5
firmations of Jesus’ deity in the Gospels
Once inside the room with His own, the
Savior immediately addressed the needi- comes from a man often labeled as “doubt-
ing Thomas.” John and his early readers
est man among them with an invitation. were familiar with slogans of emperor
Rather than scolding him for refusing to worship such as, “Caesar is Lord, Caesar
believe the other disciples’ testimony, the is God!” But Thomas got it right. Jesus is
Lord graciously said to Thomas, “Reach
hither thy finger, and behold my hands; Lord! Jesus is God! And there is no other!
and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it Notice that Jesus did not refuse to accept
into my side: and be not faithless, but be- Thomas’ declaration. He did not inform
lieving” (v27). Notice that the Lord used Thomas that he was mistaken, and that his
Thomas’ own words about having to see words were spoken in error. Rather, He
and feel the marks on His body in order commended him for what he expressed.
for him to believe Christ was risen. How Thomas’ confession is what John hopes for
could Jesus have known he said this if He his readers, and what Jesus Christ wants
was still dead? Not only did it become from us all. Do you believe He is risen?
clear to Thomas that the Lord was risen Have you acknowledged that He is Lord,
right then, but that He was risen a week your Lord? Have you recognized He is
before. He heard everything Thomas had God, your God? The consequences will
said, although He was not physically pres- change your eternity. The apostle Paul
ent. We too can find comfort in the fact wrote, “If you confess with your mouth
that our living Lord always hears what
Note the double personal pronoun (“my”),
His people say, even though He is not 4 emphasizing the personal nature of Thomas’
here in the flesh. declaration.
5 John bookends his Gospel with these strong
3 John is likely using an inclusive method of affirmations of the deity of Jesus (1:1,18; 20:28;
counting, meaning “seven days later.” see also 8:58; 10:30-33).
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