Day 27 — “My Lord and My God!”

“Then Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’”

— John 20:27–28 (BSB)

On the Sunday that Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples in a locked room. They were overjoyed!

But Thomas wasn’t there.

When the others told him, “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas didn’t believe them. He said, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”

That’s where the nickname “Doubting Thomas” comes from. And to be fair, Thomas’s friends were telling him something that had never happened before in history! A man who had been dead for three days was alive again? It’s no wonder he had a hard time believing.

For eight days, Thomas waited, doubting.

Then Jesus came again. The doors were locked, but suddenly Jesus was standing among them. And He went straight to Thomas.

Jesus didn’t scold him. He didn’t say, “How dare you doubt Me?” Instead, He gave Thomas exactly what he had asked for. “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”

And Thomas, who had doubted for a week, said the greatest statement of faith by any of the disciples: “My Lord and my God!”

Thomas didn’t just say, “Okay, You’re alive.” He recognized who Jesus really is: not just a teacher, not just a friend, but Lord and God.

Here’s what Thomas’s story teaches us. Doubts aren’t the end of faith. Many followers of Jesus go through times of doubt, wondering if it’s all really true. That’s okay. Jesus is patient with doubters. He meets them where they are.

The important thing is what you do with your doubts. Thomas didn’t walk away. He stayed with the other disciples. And when Jesus showed up, Thomas believed with his whole heart.

Then Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). That’s you! You haven’t seen Jesus with your eyes, but you can still believe.

Think about it: Have you ever had doubts about God or the Bible? What helped you?

Try this: Say Thomas’s words as a prayer today: “My Lord and my God!” Think about what it means for Jesus to be both.

Jesus, You are my Lord and my God! Thank You that You are patient with people who doubt. When I have doubts, help me stay close to You and to Your people, and help me believe. In Your name, Amen.