Let's Go Back to the Bible

My Lord and My God!

Jesus the Christ had many that commented about who He was. Most of them were false concepts of who He was.  The question posed by Jesus, “What do you think about the Christ?” still has eternal consequences (Matt. 22:42). It is important for us to know for certain who He is. Only then can you decide what you will do with the information.

There are many false views of Jesus, then and now.  His own countrymen said, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” (Mark 6:3). “King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, ‘John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him’” (Mark 6:16). When the disciples “saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out” (Mark 6:49). After the feeding of the multitude, they proceeded to “take Him by force and make Him a King” (John 6:15). There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray” (John 7:12). “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (Matt. 11:19). “His own people… went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses” (Mark 3:21). Jesus “was asking His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets’” (Matt. 16:13-14). The opinion a person has of Jesus reveals the person (John 1:1-4).

In contrast to many others, Thomas’ acute sense of reality is revealed to us by his unique confession: “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28)! Similar to Peter’s, it was powerful, insightful and full of conviction. The Lord had given Thomas exactly what he asked for—a chance to see the risen Savior like the others. At his confession, the Lord’s last beatitude was given, not to Thomas, but to us who name His name based upon infallible proof. “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed” (John 20:29). We must examine and hold onto what is good (1 Thess. 5:21)—examine the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11; John 20:31), thereby having a faith based on evidence so that we can cry out with conviction like Thomas (Heb. 11:1).

Question: Was Thomas mistaken?  A serious question!  Upon our answer to it depends our intellectual, emotional and volitional attitude toward the Christ and God. If you believe He is Lord, then you have a responsibility to decide what you will do with that information. Are you willing to submit to His will?