My Lord and My God | Day 14

Have you ever heard something so unbelievable that you had to check it out for yourself? With so many voices and opinions flying around, it can be hard to tell what’s true and what’s not. Thomas found himself in a similar situation. The other disciples swore they had seen Jesus alive, but how could that be? Who could believe such a thing? 

Maybe Thomas felt disappointed with Jesus. He had believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the rescuer of Israel, but instead of overthrowing the Romans and establishing anew kingdom, Jesus had been arrested and killed. It’s not hard to imagine Thomas feeling hurt by shattered expectations or even frustrated with his friends for believing what seemed impossible. 

But then Jesus appeared, and everything changed. 

“Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!‘” – John 20:27-28

Instead of scolding Thomas for unbelief, Jesus gently invited him closer: “Put your finger here…see My hands.” He offered His wounds as proof not only of His resurrection, but of His love.

In that moment, Thomas’ heart changed completely. He moved from admiring Jesus to surrendering to Him, from a belief shaped by expectation (“I thought You would…”) to a belief shaped by revelation (“You are more than I ever imagined!”)

He realized the Messiah he had hoped for was far too small. The man standing before him was infinitely greater – God Himself, risen and alive! 

Out of Thomas’ mouth came the simplest, most profound confession: “My Lord and my God!” In Greek, κυριος (“Lord”) could be a respectful title, much like “sir.” The disciples had called Jesus “lord” before – but now Thomas meant something entirely different. Jesus wasn’t just an authority figure; He was the authority -the Lord of all, God in flesh. But Thomas doesn’t stop there. His words are deeply personal: “My Lord and my God.” He claims Jesus not only as the Lord, but as his Lord. 

It’s one thing to know who Jesus is, but it’s another to trust Him as your Lord and your God. Thomas’ eyes were opened not by argument, but by encounter. The same risen Christ still meets us in our questions, inviting us to see Him as He truly is – our Lord, our God, our hope made flesh. And when we see Him rightly, worship naturally follows. 

Reflection Question

• In this moment, Thomas moved from unbelief to belief, to knowing about Jesus to knowing Him as Lord. Do you have a story like that? 
• What does it mean to call Jesus “ours”?

Prayer

Jesus, You took on flesh so that we might know You and love You. Thank You for meeting us in our questions and inviting us to believe. This Advent, teach us to know You deeply and personally. 

Family Activity (Optional):

Blindfolded Discovery Game: Take turns putting a blindfold or covering your eyes with a cloth. Have other family members hand you random (but safe!) household objects to identify using your other senses – touch smell or hearing (maybe skip taste!). After each round, talk about what it felt like to recognize something without seeing it. Just like we can trust what we know is true even when we can’t see it, we can believe in Jesus because we know who He is – our Lord and our God. Thomas believed because he saw Jesus with his eyes, but the Bible tells us we can believe in Him even when we don’t see Him! (John 20:29)

Name Above All Names | Day 13 | Advent 2025