Theme: My Lord My God
Text: John 20:24-29
Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!
Introduction: This month we will meditate on the appearances of the Resurrected Lord Jesus. The evets and persons whom Jesus met between the resurrection and ascension are another important area of faith concerns of the Church. "After his suffering, Jesus presented himself to them and gave many infallible proofs of that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3).
This passage (John 20:24-29) shows more specifically the significance of believing after, or because of, having seen the risen Christ, and believing without having seen him. I would like to leave with you the three characteristics of Thomas from this passage, He was a confused Thomas (John 20:24-25), convinced Thomas (John 20:26-28), and committed Thomas (John 20:29).
1. Confused Thomas (John 20:24-25)
Thomas the Didymus, an Apostle (Greek: T?µ??; T?oma, Aramaic te’oma, Greek: ??d?µ?? Didymos meaning "the twin"). Thomas came from a region of Judea surrounding the Sea of Galilee. The Syrian tradition says that his full name was Judas Thomas. Thomas’ name occurs in Matthew (10:3), Mark (3:18), Luke (6) and Acts of the Apostles (1:13), John (11:16, 14:5, 20: 24-29, 21:2). His name last mentioned in the Bible was in Acts 1:13. Very notable observation is that all information about Thomas, his personality, and his character are found in Gospel of John.
Thomas was a very dedicated Apostle of Jesus, and he had first hand witness for many miracles Jesus performed, because he walked with him, and talked with Jesus. But he was confused at various occasions and critical situations. He appears three times very active in the Gospel of John (John 11:16, 14:5, 20: 25-29). In all these three occasions his responses are important point of theology. They are: to visit Bethany to raise dead Lazarus, the Last Supper, and the resurrection of Christ.
First Thomas said: "Let us also go, that we may die with him."(John 11:16). The disciples reminded him of the hatred of the Jews, and of their recent attempts to kill Jesus. Disciples thought that Jesus would not venture to go back again into the danger, even for the sake of carrying comfort to the sorrowing Bethany household. Thomas thought that if Jesus returned to Judea he would be killed.
Thomas did not realise the divinity of Jesus, and the divine protection which sheltered him while he was doing Father's will. Thomas failed to understand the words Jesus which he spoke about his security until the hours of his day were finished. John 10:18 that Jesus would lay down his life and he can take it or resurrected to life. Thomas was so worldly to remember the bitterness of the Jews shown toward Jesus, and their determination to kill him by any means. In sorrow he failed to receive true and substantial comfort from the Scriptures.
The second time Thomas exquisitely raised a question in the upper room during Last Supper. Thomas was under pressure to know the way Jesus is going and end as per John 14:1-5. “… For I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, and you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how we know the way?”
We read the scriptures but don’t receive the right revelation of the Word. We understand the Word of God, according to our human limitations. Yielding to the Holy Spirit and to his dominion will lead us into the way of God, into the right understanding of the Word. This reflects our relationship with God in all our life struggles and situations. How do we confess Jesus in our life threats, times of hard situations of our friends and relatives, and at times of lost hope in our efforts?
2. Convinced Thomas (John 20:26-28)
Thomas had sincerely pledged to His master that he would not leave him at any cost and he would die with him (Matthew 26:35, Mark 14:31). But, Thomas deserted Jesus during the crucifixion along with other disciples (Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:50). He was utter chaos, clueless and directionless after the crucifixion. He was not with the band of Disciples. He was not there in Jerusalem when Jesus appeared on the Third Day. Thomas was a man of melancholy.
John is the only Evangelist who has preserved this incident in which Thomas was convinced and moved from unbelief to belief after his encounter with the risen Lord. Thomas initially doubted the resurrection of Jesus Christ so commonly called "Doubting Thomas".
Instead of rebuking Thomas for his behaviour of running away, not being with the band of Disciples and for not believing the word of Disciples, Jesus had compassion on Thomas. Jesus appeared to Thomas. He told him to come near to him and experience him (John 20:27). The creedal formula of Thomas is ‘My Lord and my God’” (o Kyrios mou kai o Theos mou) (John 20:28). Thomas was the first Disciple to call Jesus as LORD and GOD.
Because of Thomas, we have these encouraging words of Jesus: "…blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29, NKJV). Thus the gentleness of Jesus in dealing with Thomas brought a stronger conviction in Thomas. However, seeing and touching, for a more intimate experience of the risen Christ is unique rich spirituality.
Jesus understands our battles and doubts, He invites us to come near to him and experience Him through the scriptures, worships, fellowships and believe. It is a great thing to have a wise and faithful friend when one is passing through an experience of doubt. Many persons are only confirmed in their scepticism but unwise efforts that are made to convince them of the truth concerning which they doubt will be futile. Only the Holy Spirit does the work of conviction.
The forty days after resurrection had played vital role in rebuilding the lives of his disciples. It’s an encouraging ministry of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ during those days. He had searched the trained, tainted and discouraged, and disappointed disciples.
His appearance to them at various occasions became the foundations of the Church for centuries. He set another example of how to deal with people who are potential but backslidden. Often, this is another area of forgotten ministry.
3. Committed Thomas (John 20:29)
His vision of Jesus and his confession of Jesus as “My Lord and MY God” led him to commit himself to the ministry of Jesus Christ. First Sunday after Easter is called “The Sunday of Thomas”. TODAY IS THE THOMAS SUNDAY. It commemorates the confession, commitment of Thomas after meeting the risen Christ. His doubts had fled away and he committed to the Lord for His apostleship. The resurrected Lord appeared on Two Sundays consequently where the disciples assembled. This is the beginning of Sunday worships. They started the meetings with “Marana tha”, ‘Our Lord, come!”.
According to Acta Thomae, (written at Edessa in CE 2- 4 centuries) apostles divided up the world for their missionary works, and India fell to Thomas. Thomas was sent to evangelize the Parthians, Medes, and Persians, and Indians. So, St. Thomas reached the capital of the Parthian King Gondophares, who ruled Afghanistan and Punjab with Takshasila as capital, along with the trader Abbanes. Another Tradition says that at the dispersal of the Apostles after Pentecost. Then, he travelled to South India, landed in Muziris (Cranganore) on the Kerala coast in AD 52.
Records are found that Thomas travelled to China, Indonesia with Indian traders and spread the Gospel on those lands. Thomas died as Martyr through stabbed with a spear by four soldiers, in Mylapore, in AD 72. Today, we are blessed to live in Chennai, and have the experience of St. Thomas mount. It stands as a witness to his work. Today, we are blessed to live in Chennai, and have the experience of St. Thomas mount. It stands as a witness to his work.
According to Tradition, Thomas was the author of Gospel of Thomas, and the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. There are a few days are marked as important days for Thomas in the Church Calendar. The Malankara Orthodox Church celebrates his feast on three days in a year, as on 3rd July (in memory of the relic translation to Edessa), on 18th December (the Day he was lanced), and 21st December (when the day he died). July 3rd is celebrated as Indian Christians' Day. Of course, the 3rd July is celebrated by Christian world across many denotations, such as Latin Church, Liberal Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Malankara Orthodox Church, Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Believers Eastern Church, Syriac Catholic Church.
Thomas was not a fisherman but a carpenter. A king found him as skilful carpenter and asked him to build a Palace. But Thomas distributed the money to poor of that country. One day, king visited Thomas and asked him where the Palace is. He said he built it in Heaven and not the earth.
Conclusion: Thomas was a strong believer and a powerful missionary used by God to the glory of God. Our encounters with God, our experiences with God lead us to the commitment to the Lord. He takes us to the field, people and sacrifice.
