Affirmation of Christ as Lord and God

During the last few weeks, we meditated on Christ’s purpose on earth. Jesus Christ came to the earth to give himself as a sacrifice for all mankind so that we might be free from sin and the hold of death. Additionally, being washed by the blood of Christ, we obtained a direct channel to the Father through Jesus Christ and our relationship with the Father is renewed in the new covenant. All this was attained through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

When Moses was enlisted by the LORD to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, he enquired the LORD about this name. To which the LORD replied thus,

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ Exodus 3:13-15

This is a very interesting revelation. I AM. It doesn’t quite sound like a name. But it encapsulates the nature of the Father perfectly. Essentially, it highlights the preeminence of the LORD, that is, existence without an origin or end. He is unchanging and ever present. Through this particular name, the LORD revealed himself to Moses, and was understood by the people of Israel. It is not a coincidence that Jesus Christ invoked this when preaching to the people. The gospel of John records multiple uses of I AM … by Jesus, using which Jesus hinted his nature and purpose. However, only a few actually understood the intended meaning at that time. Nevertheless, after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples enabling them to understand the magnitude of the mission. During one such appearance, a key revelation about Christ is established by Thomas, the skeptic, who had missed a prior appearance of Christ.

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29

It is rather easy to not believe certain things which go beyond one’s conventional understanding or worldview. On the surface it is easy to categorize Thomas plainly as a doubter. But it could be that his view was a little more nuanced than that. Thomas does say that he wants to “test” and believe, but he remains with the company of the disciples after his statement. Once Jesus appears (inside the closed room) none of the disciples are recorded as being afraid or startled, and even after Jesus invites Thomas to “test”, he does not. Rather, we have a very strong declaration from him, “My Lord and my God!”. We do not know the reason for Thomas’ hesitance to believe, but this declaration from him came as a revelation from above.

After this, Jesus states, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We are the ones who are in the latter group. While sometimes we might feel that we need a more tangible proof for something, it doesn’t necessarily have to be so in this case. Faith by definition is our belief in the unseen. In this particular instance, Thomas, though initially unbelieving, was able to jump ahead in faith through his declaration “My Lord and my God!”, by which he affirmed Jesus Christ as Lord and God. Thomas was finally able to connect all the teachings and doings of Jesus Christ and through the grace from above, was able to land at his conclusive declaration.

Later, Paul elaborates on this when he writes to the Colossians, where he establishes the preeminence of Jesus Christ and the fullness of the Father which is seen in Christ. The Father himself affirms the Son’s position and this is why we were able to reconcile with the Father through the blood of Christ.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:15-20

As closing thoughts, there are three other things which we can take away from the incident with Thomas. Notice the greeting of Christ, “Peace to you!”. Since the resurrection, this greeting is more profound. We are called to be peacemakers on earth, and this peace which we obtain from Christ is one which nothing can take away from us. Secondly, when Jesus appears inside a closed room, there is a distinct lack of fear among the disciples. Because they know Jesus. Likewise, as we get to know Jesus Christ, our fears will fly away and the things which used to scare us will look frivolous. Finally, the key to ensuring that we obtain this peace and remain fearless, is by believing. Faith. Like Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” May the LORD enable us to stand in faith, fearless and in peace.