John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said to him, My LORD and my God. Let us consider — I. THE EXCLAMATION OF THOMAS. It is as much as a man could say if he wished to assert dogmatically that Jesus is God and Lord (Psalm 35:23). To escape from the force of this confession some have charged Thomas with breaking the third commandment, just as thoughtless persons take the Lord's name in vain and say, "Good God!" or "O Lord!" This could not have been the case. For, in the first place, it was not the habit of a Jew to use any such exclamation when surprised. The Jews in our Lord's time were particular beyond everything about using the name of God. In the next place, it was not rebuked by our Lord, and we may be sure He would not have suffered such an unhallowed cry to have gone without a reprimand. Observe, too, that it was addressed to the Lord Jesus. 1. It was not a mere outburst, accepted by our Lord as an evidence of faith, but a devout expression of holy wonder at the discovery that Jesus was his Lord and God, and probably also at the fact that he has not seen it long before. Had he not been present when Jesus trod the sea? &c. Now on a sudden he does know his Lord, and such knowledge is too wonderful for him. How I wish you would all follow Thomas! I will stop that you may do so. Let us wonder and admire! 2. An expression of immeasurable delight. He seems to take hold of the Lord Jesus with both hands, by those two blessed "my's." There is here a music akin to "my beloved is mine, and I am His." I pray you follow Thomas in this. Before you Jesus now stands, visible to your faith. Delight yourselves in him. 3. An indication of a complete change of mind, — a most hearty repentance. Instead of putting his finger into the print of the nails, he cried, "My Lord and my God." 4. A brief confession of faith. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he be able to unite with Thomas heartily in this creed. 5. An enthusiastic profession of his allegiance to Christ. "Henceforth, thou art my Lord, and I will serve Thee; Thou art my God, and I will worship Thee." 6. A distinct and direct act of adoration. II. HOW DID HE COME TO THAT EXCLAMATION? 1. He had his thoughts revealed. The Saviour had read them at a distance. Notice that the Saviour did not say, "Put thy finger into the nail-prints in My feet." Why not? Why, because Thomas had not said anything about His feet. We, in looking at it, can see the exactness; bat Thomas must have felt it much more. 2. All the past must have risen before his mind, the many occasions in which the Lord Jesus had exercised the attributes of Deity. 3. The very manner of the Saviour, so full of majesty, convinced the trembling disciple. 4. But the most convincing were our Lord's wounds. III. HOW WE MAY COME TO IT. If ever any one of us shall cry in spirit and in truth, "My Lord and my God!" the Holy Spirit must teach us. We shall so cry — 1. At conversion. 2. In deliverance from temptation. 3. In time of trouble, when we are comforted and upheld. There have been other occasions less trying. 4. While studying the story of our Lord. 5. In the breaking of bread. 6. In times when He has blessed our labours, and laid His arm bare in the salvation of men. 7. In the hour of death. 8. In heaven. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. |
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