People often ask for evidence to believe that Jesus is Lord and God. Recently, someone said, “I need the encounter of the burning bush to come to believe in Jesus.” The Apostle Thomas represents such people—he wanted to physically see Jesus in order to believe in Him. He said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)

At first, this may seem like a genuine request, but it also reveals a lack of interest in the evidence already presented. His fellow disciples and the women who were part of the group had told him about Jesus’ resurrection. What more should one need to believe? Asking for more evidence often means suppressing the existing evidence.

Should we ask for Jesus’ physical presence every time someone doubts His resurrection? In this context, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” (John 20:29) Though Thomas questioned Jesus’ resurrection, once he saw Jesus—even if we are not sure whether he physically touched Him—his entire perspective changed. He was not only convinced of Jesus’ resurrection but also declared, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

This is a profound statement. Jesus had always been known as Lord. The disciples and others had called Him Lord. But this is the first time Jesus is acknowledged as God. Though the terms God and Lord are often used interchangeably, the term God is reserved for the Creator. John, in his prologue, wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

After seeing the risen Lord, Thomas recognized that Jesus is not only Lord but also God—and not just any God, but his Lord and his God. This is a special, personal recognition of a great God and Lord to whom he was now fully committed. As we celebrate Easter, let us remember that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus brings us closer to God. He is our Lord and our God. May the dear Lord help us to grow in this understanding day by day! God bless!

This Sunday, we are going to meditate on Thomas’s encounter with the risen Lord. We will explore why Thomas had doubts and how he came to have a personal faith in the risen Lord. We will also reflect on the lessons we can learn from this encounter and how they are important for our Christian journey.