Understanding John 20:28: My Lord and My God

Thomas’s Doubt and the Power of Seeing

This moment with Thomas comes right after Jesus’ resurrection, when the other disciples had already seen the risen Lord but Thomas wasn’t there.

Thomas had said, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe' - showing how deeply he needed proof. Jesus later appears again, this time with Thomas present, and invites him to touch his wounds, meeting Thomas exactly where his doubt lived. In that moment, Thomas does not touch Jesus. Instead, he blurts out, 'My Lord and my God!'.' - a spontaneous cry of faith.

This confession stands as one of the clearest declarations of Jesus’ divinity in the entire Bible, showing that Jesus is not only the Messiah but truly God with us.

My Lord and My God: A Divine Confession

Thomas’s declaration, 'My Lord and my God!' is far more than a surprised reaction - it’s a bold, worshipful confession that reveals who Jesus truly is.

In calling Jesus 'God' (Theos), Thomas uses a title almost never applied to a human in Jewish thought, especially not in a monotheistic faith where the Shema declares, 'The Lord our God, the Lord is one' (Deut 6:4). Yet John’s Gospel began with the claim that 'the Word was with God, and the Word was God' (John 1:1), and now Thomas echoes that truth in personal, heartfelt worship. This moment shows that Jesus is not merely sent by God; He shares God’s very nature. No other Gospel records Thomas saying exactly this. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell of Jesus’ resurrection appearances, only John includes this direct, unfiltered cry of divine recognition.

In first-century Jewish culture, calling a teacher 'Lord' was common, but adding 'my God' crossed a sacred line - only God could be addressed that way. For Thomas, a Jewish man shaped by temple worship and strict monotheism, this wasn’t casual language. It was the moment doubt collapsed into awe, and he saw that the man he followed was the same God who parted the sea and spoke from Sinai. The title 'Theos' here carries full weight - Jesus is not a divine representative. He is God present in flesh.

This confession stands in line with John’s purpose: that we 'may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name' (John 20:31). It also echoes the revelation in 2 Corinthians 4:6, where Paul says, 'For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.'

Thomas’s words invite us to believe in Jesus and to worship Him - to see in His scarred hands the living God who entered our pain and conquered death.

Believing Without Seeing: The Blessing of Unseen Faith

Right after Thomas’s powerful confession, Jesus shifts the focus from sight to faith, saying, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed' (John 20:29).

Jesus does not dismiss Thomas’s belief, but He lifts our eyes to something even greater - the quiet, steady trust of those who follow Him without physical proof. This moment marks a turning point in how faith would be lived from then on, since most people would never see the risen Jesus with their eyes. Instead, they would hear the testimony of others and respond with trust.

Jesus’ words echo the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: 'Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.' This is not a lesser kind of faith, but a deeply blessed one. John includes this exchange to record history and to strengthen the faith of future believers - people like us - who believe because we have encountered Christ through the Gospel, not because we have touched scars. The entire purpose of John’s writing, as he states in John 20:31, is so 'you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.'

This story fits perfectly in John’s Gospel, which emphasizes belief through signs and words rather than physical presence. John carefully selects moments that lead us to worship Jesus as God, as Thomas did. The timeless truth here is that God honors the faith that demands proof, and especially the faith that trusts without it. Our belief isn’t weak because we haven’t seen. It’s blessed because we still choose to follow.

The Climax of John’s Gospel: A Confession That Echoes Through Scripture

Thomas’s declaration, 'My Lord and my God!It isn’t merely a personal breakthrough - it’s the climax of John’s entire presentation of who Jesus is.

John has been building this case from the very first chapter, where he writes, 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God' (John 1:1), and later when Jesus says, 'Before Abraham was, I am' (John 8:58), claiming divine identity. Thomas’s confession confirms what John has been showing all along - that Jesus is not only the Messiah but the living God in flesh.

This moment also aligns with the broader New Testament witness, like Paul’s words in Romans 10:9: 'If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved' - showing that calling Jesus 'Lord' in full sincerity is a divine acknowledgment rooted in faith.

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