My Lord And My God

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."  After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was 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 have yet believed."
John 20: 25-29 NKJV

We've all heard that infamous phrase.  To be a "Doubting Thomas"  is to  show a unbelief for something despite there being ample evidence to the contrary.  It is here where we find our friend the disciple Thomas, of whom this infamous phrase was named.  Poor Thomas, who despite having shared so much of the ministry of Christ Jesus walking in his footsteps, refused to believe the other disciples when he was told of his Lords resurection.  Now, of course the disciples of Jesus were warned of His ultimate crucifiction and resurection by Jesus Himself.  Yet they were caught off guard when it all came down.  For Christ had told them on numerous occasions of His impending fate at the hands of sinful men, yet they were still surprised.  Now, in Thomas' defense, he was not there when Christ first appeared to the other disciples after His resurection.  Perhaps this was by design.  However, once he saw his one true and living God in the flesh, Thomas changed his tune.  What happened there?  Why did Thomas need to see proof that his Lord had indeed returned?  Why were the other disciples surprised by something they were told would happen?

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in apprearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2: 5-11 NKJV

It is not surprising to see the reaction of Thomas upon being reassured that he was once again in his Lords presence.  Imagine the joy Thomas must have felt, but also his hesitation at having doubted.  However, it was during this moment of Thomas' unbelief that Jesus gently took his young disciple aside and reassured him of His presence.  It is here that we see the reaction of a reassured Thomas, "My Lord and my God!"  How many of us today share that belief of the doubting Thomas?  For despite having the very testimony of the prophets and disciples of Christ Jesus, there are those who still refuse to believe.  I believe that when our time on earth is complete and the veil of truth is lifted, that those who have not believed in the risen Son of God will finaly see what they for so long refused to believe.  The rich man in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus was such a individual.  Facing the flames of hell, this rich man begged father Abraham to send someone to warn his brothers who were yet alive, lest they follow in his footsteps.

Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my fathers house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'  "Abraham said to him, 'they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  "But he said to him, if they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead."
Luke 16: 27-31 NKJV

We have the faithful witness of Gods word as our guide to the truth of our Lord Christ Jesus.  Have we heard?   Have we believed?  We dare not wait until that morning breaks on our eternity before making our proclamation, "My Lord and my God!"