Doubting or Believing Thomas?
Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 11-13; John 20; Psalm 142
From Doubt to Devotion: The Faith of Thomas
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
—John 20:28–29 (ESV)
Thomas has long carried the unfortunate nickname “Doubting Thomas.” We remember his demand for evidence and his refusal to believe the other disciples' report that Jesus had risen. But maybe we’ve misjudged him.
When Jesus finally appears and shows Thomas His hands and side, something remarkable happens. Thomas doesn’t just believe that Jesus is alive—he makes the most profound confession in the entire Gospel of John: “My Lord and my God!”
This is more than catching up with the other disciples. It’s a leap forward. While others had called Jesus “Rabbi,” “Messiah,” and “Son of God,” Thomas is the first to address Him directly as “God.” His confession is deeply personal (my Lord and my God), heartfelt, and full of worship.
Then Jesus responds, not with rebuke, but with a gentle blessing: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” That’s not a dismissal of Thomas, but a word for us—those who would come after, who wouldn't have the chance to touch the nail marks, but would be called to believe through the witness of Scripture and the Spirit’s work.
In that moment, Thomas becomes the bridge between the eyewitness generation and all future believers. His faith, born through honest doubt, becomes the model for saving belief. He shows us that doubt is not the enemy of faith—unwillingness to believe is. But honest questions, brought to Jesus, can lead to deeper worship.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being patient with our questions and gracious with our doubts. Help me, like Thomas, to move from uncertainty to worship. Deepen my faith—not just in the facts of Your resurrection, but in who You are: my Lord and my God. Amen.
Amen