JOHN 20:24–29
“MY LORD AND MY GOD!”: FAITH WITHOUT SEEING
BRIEF INTERPRETATION
Text – John 20:24–29
24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Historical and Jewish Context
In Jewish thought, testimony required trustworthy witnesses, yet Thomas demands personal verification, reflecting both skepticism and honesty. The insistence on touching wounds shows the disciples’ struggle to comprehend bodily resurrection. The greeting of peace again emphasizes reconciliation. Thomas’ confession uses divine language that would have been shocking in a strict monotheistic context, affirming the full divinity of Jesus.
Catholic Theological Perspective
This passage presents one of the clearest Christological affirmations in the New Testament. Catholic theology holds Thomas’ confession—“My Lord and my God”—as a profound profession of faith in the divinity of Christ. Jesus does not condemn Thomas but leads him from doubt to belief. The final beatitude extends beyond the apostles to all future believers who come to faith through testimony and grace rather than physical sight. Faith matures through encounter, patience, and surrender.
Parallels in Scripture
Psalm 35:23 – Calling God “my Lord.”
Isaiah 45:23 – Confession of divine lordship.
John 1:1 – The Word was God.
Hebrews 11:1 – Faith as assurance without sight.
1 Peter 1:8–9 – Believing without seeing.
Key Terms
Doubt – Honest struggle toward faith.
Wounds – Continuity of the Crucified and Risen Lord.
Peace – Restoration of communion.
My Lord and my God – Full confession of Christ’s divinity.
Blessed – Promise for future believers.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This Gospel is proclaimed on Divine Mercy Sunday. The Church reflects on faith, mercy, and the blessing promised to those who believe through testimony.
Conclusion
John 20:24–29 reveals that faith can grow through doubt when it is met by Christ’s mercy. Thomas’ journey ends in one of the strongest confessions of faith in Scripture, affirming Jesus as Lord and God. Believers today are blessed through faith that trusts the risen Christ without seeing.
Reflection
How do I respond to doubt in my faith journey?
Do I bring my questions honestly to Christ?
How do I live as one who believes without seeing?
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, risen and glorified, strengthen my faith when doubt arises. Help me to trust Your presence even when I cannot see. May I confess with Thomas, “My Lord and my God,” and live in the joy of believing. Amen.
DETAILED INTERPRETATION
INTRODUCTION
Saint Thomas the Apostle insisted that he would believe the Resurrection only if he would see the man and touch the wound- marks on his hands and side. So this became another proof for Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus is the focus of the story because he who washed the feet of his apostles was so humble as to appear before Thomas and bow to all his demands to set his doubts at rest. Thomas, in turn, expressed his firm belief in the Risen Lord and committed himself to spread the gospel and even became a martyr for Christ in 72 AD.
(24) Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came
Thomas, called Didymus
Thomas is a Hebrew name, and Didymus is the equivalent Greek name. Both names signify twin because Thomas was a twin in his family. The Jews used to have a Jewish name and a Gentile name. In Judea, the public knew them by their Hebrew names, and in Galilee and other non-Jewish areas, people used their Gentile names. For example, Saul was the Hebrew name and Paul was the Greek name of the Apostle Paul.
One of the Twelve
Jesus kept many Jewish traditions, and one was the importance he gave to number 12 in selecting his apostles. They stood for the 12 sons or tribes of Israel. After the death of Judas, the college of the apostles was very particular to keep the same number by selecting Mathias to substitute Judas Iscariot.
Number 12 has importance in the Bible. It is one of the perfect numbers like 3, 7, and 10 derived from the 12 sons of Jacob whose descendants became the 12 tribes of Israel. Moses sent 12 spies to Canaan representing the 12 tribes of Israel. Jesus considered his church as the new Israel and selected 12 men as the pillars of his church. He said of his apostles, “Listen to my words: at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his throne in glory, you who have followed me will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to rule the twelve tribes of Israel” (Mt 19:28).
Thomas was not with them when Jesus came
It was not only Judas or Peter who failed in their promises at Christ’s passion. Thomas, who had told his colleagues “Let us also go to die with him” (Jn 11:16), also made himself scarce when Jesus’ trial and crucifixion were taking place. However, he worked hard for the early church and accepted martyrdom in 72 AD. Thomas might have been suffering from the guilt feeling that he, like Peter, had behaved like a coward. Thomas might have opted to grieve in private rather than with the group. He probably forgot the words of Jesus, “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there with them” (Mt 18:20).
(25) The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he replied, “Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand into his side, I will not believe”
Thomas doubted the testimony of his ten colleagues probably because he thought that they were hallucinating. He needed to physically touch and feel the severe wound marks on Jesus’ body before his doubts could be set at rest.
Nail marks
The crucifixion of criminals was by nailing or fastening the hands and feet to the cross with cords. Thomas’s statement is a secondary confirmation that Jesus had been nailed to the cross. It also dovetailed with Psalm 22:16, “They have pierced my hands and feet.”
Put my hand into his side
Thomas knew that Longinus, a blind centurion, had pierced Jesus’ heart. He probably came to know about it from the eyewitness account of John. So, Thomas wanted to touch that wound mark.
(26) Eight days later, the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors, Jesus came in. He stood among them and said, “Peace be with you”
Jesus’ second appearance to Thomas and other apostles was on the Sunday after Easter. Though the apostles might have been gathering often, this Sunday gathering might have been for special prayers to commemorate the Lord’s resurrection. This time also, as in the past week, the disciples locked the doors for fear of Jews. They might have been in the same room. The same greeting of Jesus as before, “Peace be unto you,” was a normal greeting with a new meaning of the peace of the resurrection added to it.
Thomas was with them
Thomas didn’t want to miss out on the privilege of meeting the Risen Lord, should he make a repeat appearance. So, this time he joined himself with them in prayer.
(27) Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe”
During the previous Sunday, Thomas missed Jesus’ visit and all that Jesus did for the other apostles. However, on the second Sunday, Thomas got exclusive attention from Jesus by being called by name and invited to touch his crucifixion wound marks. The other 10 apostles might have wondered at the special privilege Jesus gave to Thomas.
Doubt no longer but believe
The doubt here means the unbelief of Thomas in Jesus’ resurrection and his tendency to move backwards in his spiritual relationship with Jesus. A firm believer trusts the Lord without seeking evidence.
(28) Thomas then said, “My Lord and my God”
Jesus knowing the demands of Thomas, without him asking, surprised Thomas. Besides, the Lord was humbling himself to appear before him and yielded to his demands. Without waiting to touch for belief, Thomas responded his profession of faith.
“My Lord and my God!”
There are different shades of meaning for the words “Lord” and “God.” The term God comes from Hebrew “Elohim” and Greek “Theos.” God stands for the all-powerful one who created the world and sustains it. The word “Lord” comes from Hebrew “Adonai” and Greek “Kurios.” Its translation is Yahweh (Jehovah), who interacts with people like making Adam out of clay, breathing into his nostrils, creating Eve out of Adam’s rib, conversing with the first parents, and making a covenant with the people. Elohim came from Priestly tradition, and Yahweh came from Yahwistic tradition in the Bible. Thus, the Old Testament used both Lord and God when referring to God the Almighty. Psalm 35:23 uses, “My God and my Lord.”
The disciples called Jesus, the Lord. That could mean someone in a higher rank or the “Son of God.” In Matthew 16:16, Simon Peter answered Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus had asserted he was God and for that reason, the Jews accused him of blasphemy. However, Thomas got the inspiration to say to the Risen Lord, “My Lord and my God.” By that, Thomas declared that he had seen Jesus so far as his Lord. However, he acknowledged that the Lord is also the Mighty God. Hence, Thomas had advanced in his belief and conviction. He expressed his faith in the divinity of Jesus. Jesus had told in John 14:9, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Thomas while seeing the Risen Lord acknowledged that God the Father was visible in Jesus.
(29) Jesus replied, “You believe because you see me. Blessed are those who believe although they have not seen”
We believe many things in practical and spiritual life without seeing or with no proof. We trust in the words or reports of others. Jesus compliments those who believe with spiritual sight than with physical sight. Thomas’ expression of doubt and Jesus’ yielding to his pre-conditions to belief became another proof for Jesus’ resurrection.
MESSAGE
1. Jesus appeared every Sunday to his disciples after his resurrection and before his ascension into heaven. Jesus comes down to meet us during every Holy Mass, especially on Sundays. Let us give proper importance for Sunday observance.
2. Since Thomas did not keep the company of his fellow apostles, he missed the excellent opportunity to meet the Risen Lord on the day of resurrection. While he was absent, Jesus breathed on the other apostles and commissioned them for spreading the gospel and empowered them to forgive and withhold sins. Though he got all these later from Jesus, the experience of Thomas is a lesson for us to keep up the Christian brotherhood.
3. The compassion of Jesus towards the stubborn Thomas is a model for us. Jesus, who washed the feet of his disciples, again showed them how to be humble and caring towards ‘difficult’ people.
4. Thomas’ missing the first appearance of Jesus to the apostles on the Easter Sunday teaches us a lesson – some believers claim that true spirituality hasn’t got anything to do with community. They hold that it is sufficient to have faith in God and do their prayers. Jesus wants us to be in communion with the church because he is the head of the church and the Holy Spirit is guiding the church. The Holy Mass, which is the sacrifice of Jesus, and other sacraments are our essential spiritual nourishment.
5. Saint Thomas seeing the Risen Lord points to the wounded heart of Jesus. His sacrificial love from his heart is a lesson for us to follow in serving others from our hearts.