John’s Gospel: Thomas

Thomas fell at Jesus’ feet, clinging to Him in worship. “My Lord and my God!”

Posted on

Jesus had told them before, “The Work of God is to believe in the One who was sent.”
The time came to obey that word. One week later, the disciples were again gathered, this time with Thomas attending. This was so different. The testimony of the women and the two disciples was now a shared experience—they had all seen the Lord! He had appeared among them, shining with an inner radiance that could only be sourced in the heavenly Zion, His ruling and dwelling place. None of them would ever look at closed doors and windows the same way again.

Absenteeism
Among them this time was one of the original 12 men chosen by Jesus, Thomas. Our brief glimpses of Thomas in the gospels indicate him to be a man of sharp intellect and prodigious reasoning skills. If Thomas had a favorite scripture it was probably, “Come, let us reason together…” On this night, he found the testimonies of the others insufficient. They had seen Jesus; he had not.

He knew the story.
Perhaps Thomas had watched from a safe distance as Jesus carried His cross through the streets of Jerusalem toward the Place of the Skull. It could be he was close enough to hear the sound of the Roman hammers or even see the nails driven mercilessly into the hands and feet of Jesus. Maybe he had stayed after Jesus cried, “It is finished” to see the Roman soldier spear Him in the side. Thomas knew of these things. The resurrection witnesses reasoned with him: “We have seen the Lord.”

Thomas needed more. His reluctance to believe had become more a will-set than a mind-set. “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

In the Presence
Without warning, just as He had done a week before, Jesus was among them without benefit of door or window. Let us imagine that He materialized behind Thomas and the first indication of His presence was the two-fold witness of

  1. the looks on the faces of those who saw Jesus first, and
  2. the sweetness of the Lord’s presence among them.

Thomas ceased his internal and external debates, closed his mouth, and opened his heart. Turning a full circle, he saw Jesus, smiling and offering hands, clearly scarred, for Thomas’ inspection. “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

Such inspection was no longer required. As Mary Magdalene had done, Thomas fell at Jesus’ feet, clinging to Him in worship. “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus lifted Thomas to his full height to look him full in the eyes. He had to reach deeper than the man’s mind, all the way to his heart. “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Believing
It is good to ask questions when done in faith and not in cynicism. It is proper to reason together for the Lord, through Isaiah, invites us to do this. But the beginning and ending of our questioning and reasoning must be faith, believing in “Him who was sent.” To question in doubt leads to more questions. To reason in our own strength leads to dubious conclusions. Believing is the work of God.

Scriptures:
John 20:24-31

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Isaiah 1:18-20 NKJV
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

John 6:26-29 NKJV
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your wonderful presence. As on that night, You have no need of doors for our thanksgiving is the eternal gateway to Your presence. The recognition of Your nearness comes to me through my mind, my heart, and my spirit–my whole, redeemed being! Your blood has cleansed my soul. Your Spirit has raised my mind and body to new, resurrected life. Your amazing grace has healed me completely. I once was blind, but now I see—You! And I know You are with me always. Thank You, Lord! Alleluia!

Song:
I Live

Words and Music: Rich Cook

I live, I live because He is risen.
I live, I live to worship Him.
Thank You, Jesus! Thank You, Jesus!
Because You’re alive,
Because You’re alive,
Because You’re alive, I live!

 

 

 


THE JESUS STORY SERIES

You can find all of Steve’s Daily Devotions by clicking the button below.

VISIT THE JESUS STORY PAGE

The views and opinions expressed by Kingdom Winds Collective Members, authors, and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Kingdom Winds LLC.

About the Author

Full of passion for Jesus Christ, Stephen Phifer is a third-generation minister with more than three decades of experience as a pastoral artist, worship leader, and conductor.