“Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” John 20:27-28.

Thomas, also called Didymus, was one of the twelve disciples, known as Doubting Thomas. His personality was more pessimistic than optimistic. Even though He loved the Lord, he tended to err on the side of practicality; this is the way it is! When Jesus went to raise Lazarus from the dead, it was Thomas who said in John 11:16, “Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.” 

After the resurrection of our Lord, Thomas was absent from the group of disciples for reasons not specified in the text. When he later rejoined them, he refused to accept their testimony and insisted that he would not believe unless he could see and touch Jesus’s wounds. “The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Regardless of their testimonies, Thomas demanded to see for himself; this reminds me of Job’s desire for answers, which led to a series of questions from God, emphatically pointing to His sovereignty! Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.” Job 38:4.

God has divine providence, and we are totally unable to comprehend the wisdom and power of our Almighty God! Yet, God is so gracious and loving, He meets each of us just where we are in our walk and relationship with Him.

Jesus grants Thomas his desire to handle Him. Can you imagine Thomas mind when Jesus appears in the room and says to him, “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” All possible rationality had to stop in Thomas’ mind as he beheld his Savior… and he never reached his hands out to touch Jesus, but proclaimed with all his might, “My Lord and my God!”

My friends, rest assured, that yes, there are times we may waver in our faith, and it may appear to fail us…but during those darkest moments of doubt, unbelief, or fear- Jesus shows up right on time in our lives, and we too must proclaim as Thomas… My Lord and my God!

May God’s grace and mercy be with you all.