My Lord and My God!

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

John 20:28 (NIV)

Thomas wasn't there when the other disciples first saw Jesus after His resurrection. They told him about it it and he was skeptical. And then boom, Jesus appeared again and Thomas believed. Actually, it was a week later. A week later. Just one more time for emphasis. A week later. Can you imagine what Thomas must have been feeling during that week. All of these other folks that Thomas had been close to for the years of Jesus' ministry had seen Jesus in the flesh after the resurrection. He hadn't. Whatever it was the Thomas had been doing that day when he wasn't there with the other disciples must not have seen as important now. The other disciples had seen Jesus alive and he hadn't. If I had been in his position my skepticism at first would have turned into doubt which after a week probably would have turned into utter despair. Thomas may have felt confident with his skepticism at first, but a week later he may have felt like Charlie Brown on the ground after Lucy pulled the football away from him. AUGH! Perhaps he was thinking "Why has everyone else had this blessing and I have not? What's wrong with me?" So, he stuck close to the other disciples. If Jesus appeared again, he wasn't going to miss it. They were togehter in the room. The doors were locked. Jesus appeared. Jesus looked at Thomas and spoke to him. He knew the skepticism and doubt. Come on, stick your finger in there. It's really me! After a week of hungering to see Jesus again, the doubt had vanished. After a week of longing to see Jesus again, there He was. After a week of doubt and despair, Thomas' hope was realized. I can imagine that Thomas didn't just say those words once. I can imagine that he bowed before Jesus repeating over and over "My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God." I can imagine that Thomas was weeping tears of joy as He did so. "My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God."

I find it easy to put myself in Thomas' shoes. Why has everyone else around me gotten this blessing and I haven't? I can feel the skepticism, doubt, and despair. I can feel the longing to really see Jesus. I can feel the fear. I can feel the pain. But there Jesus is. I can feel the peace. I too bow and worship. My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God. My Lord and my God.

Do You Believe This?

²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11:25-26 (ESV)

Lazarus had died. Martha came to Jesus and confessed that she knew that if Jesus were there, Lazarus would not have died. She wasn't nagging. If You'd only been here, this NEVER would have happened. Where the heck were You? No, she recognized His power. She knew what He could do. Jesus began to draw her out. "Your brother will rise again." Yes, Jesus, I know that. He'll rise on the last day. I know that. She recognized Jesus power to heal the sick - the living. She knew that Jesus had power over life. But what about death? Jesus knew He was going to die on the cross. His disciples were beginning to realize that Jesus was going to be killed. Thomas suggested to his fellow disciples that they go and die with Jesus. "Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." Jesus has power over life AND death. "Do you believe this?" Do you have faith in this? Do you trust this? Are you willing to commit to this? Martha, He's saying, You know Who I really am. You've seen what I can do. I am telling you that I can do more than you know. How are do you respond right here, right now?

I know the end of the story. Lazarus is raised from the dead. Jesus goes on to die on the cross. He dies for my sin. The curtain in the temple is torn in two. Through Jesus, we have access to God's holiness. Jesus is raised from the dead. Death cannot stop Jesus. Oh death, where is your sting? But the question that I am confronted with is the same question Jesus posed here to Martha. "Do I believe this?"