What Does John 20:28 Mean?

Verse of the Day

John-20-28

Thomas was also a deep thinker who paid heed to Christ's words of wisdom, but he did not always understand the depth of meaning behind Christ's discourses. "Lord, we do not know where You are going," was his quick complaint when Jesus revealed that He was soon to leave them and return to His Father in heaven, "so how can we know the way?" was his earnest query.

But it was his reliance on the logic of man, and his inability to see truth beyond his physical senses, that caused him to become labelled with the uncomplimentary title, 'doubting Thomas', for he would not accept the multiple eyewitness accounts of Christ's Resurrection because he himself, had not seen His resurrected Lord with his own eyes, nor had he touched the risen Saviour with his own hands - and so he made the astonishing claim, "unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

We can only imagine the depth of sweet joy, bitter shame, and utter astonishment, when Christ came and stood before Thomas. The doors were locked, the disciples were assembled, and this time Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood in the midst of them and said, "Thomas - reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." Then Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"What a confession from Thomas! What an incredible declaration. What a wonderful truth - for Jesus is alive and has broken the power of death in the lives of all who believe. When Thomas saw his Lord, his cocky comments and disdainful disbelief must have frozen on his lips - and his only response could be, "My Lord and my God!" Indeed, how grateful we are that these words of Thomas are recorded in the inspired, God-breathed Scriptures... for Jesus is indeed our God and our Saviour.

I am sure Christ's gentle admonishment at his earlier unbelief was a great relief, for although Thomas - like Peter - had denied his Lord, Jesus did not dismiss him, but met him at his point of need and strengthened his resolve to go into all the world and preach the gospel of Christ to others.

You and I do not have the opportunity to see the risen Lord Jesus in the same way that Thomas saw Him - but Jesus also added these words of comfort... especially for you and for me, "Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed."