John 20:28 "My Lord and My God"

Proponents of Christ-is-God theology either misinterpret the verses of the Bible or basing on inaccurate translation of the verses to back up their contentions. Do not be deceived. 

Make a careful study. Examine and investigate.

ON JOHN 20:28

 “MY LORD AND MY GOD”

WHAT THOMAS UTTERED in John 20:28 should not be regarded as a statement of faith nor be considered as a strong biblical foundation to assert the alleged divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. John 20:28 reads:

“And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:28 NKJV)

Why it should not be regarded as a statement of faith nor be considered as a strong biblical foundation of the alleged divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ?

(1) THOMAS’ STATEMENT CONTRADICTED JESUS’ STATEMENT

Before Jesus showed up to the disciples after His resurrection (thus, before Thomas made this statement recorded in John 20:28), the Lord first showed up to Mary Magdalene. This was what the Lord Jesus Christ told Mary Magdalene:

“1Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

“Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, ‘Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’ Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'" (John 20:1,14-17, NKJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ told Mary Magdalene to go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” Jesus explicitly said that His God is also their God, who is His Father and also their Father. Indeed, Mary Magdalene had told the disciples (including Thomas) of what the Lord had told her to tell to them:

“Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.” (John 20:17-18, NKJV)

The disciples knew (including Thomas) that the “Father” who Jesus clearly called His God is not Jesus Christ because He Himself had taught them that He is different from the Father. This is what the Lord Jesus said in John 14:28:

“You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28 NKJV)

Jesus’ disciples also knew that the one the Lord Jesus Christ called as His Father and His God is the One True God because Jesus himself had taught this truth to His disciples:

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:1,3 NKJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ explicitly taught His disciples that the Father alone is the true God, and He is the messenger or whom the One True God have sent. Thus, to attain eternal life is to believe that the Father alone is the true God and that Jesus is sent by the One True God.

Take note that the Gospel that wrote that Thomas stated “My Lord and my God” was also the Gospel that wrote that the Lord Jesus Christ explicitly stated, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God,” also “My Father is greater than I,” and “Father…this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God…”

Obviously, Thomas failed to remember these words of his Master. Thus, Thomas statement in John 20:28 contradicted what His Master has taught Him.

(2) THE ISSUE WAS NOT JESUS’ ALLEGED DIVINITY, BUT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

The issue then was not regarding Jesus’ alleged divinity, but His resurrection:

“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

“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!’” (John 20:19-20, 24-28, NKJV)

Because the issue then was not regarding Jesus alleged divinity, but the resurrection of the Lord of Jesus. So, what Thomas doubted was the resurrection of Jesus, and this was what the Lord Jesus affirmed. Thus, after the Lord Jesus affirmed His resurrection, at this point, Thomas was not affirming his faith in the alleged deity of Jesus, but on latter’s resurrection.

(3) THOMAS WAS NOT PREACHING AT THAT MOMENT BUT WAS FROM A STATE OF UNBELIEF

Remember that Thomas was not preaching at that moment. Actually, he was from a state of unbelief:

“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!” (John 20:25-28, NKJV)

Take note of what the Lord Jesus Christ said to Thomas before he made the statement recorded in John 20:28. Jesus said to him, “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.”

Let us compare the statement of Thomas which when he uttered his statement in John 2028 he was not in the act of preaching and from a state of unbelieving with the statement of Apostle Peter which when he said this he was in a state of filled with Holy Spirit and He is in the act of preaching:

“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst...” (Acts 2:4,14,22-23, NKJV)

During his preaching, Apostle Peter made the following statements: “Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst.” Here, it  is clear, that Jesus is different from God. He was a Man attested by God through miracles, wonders and signs. Also, the following statement was made by Apostle Peter when he was preaching this time at the temple:

“So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.” (Acts 3:12-13 NKJV)

Filled with Holy Spirit, Apostle Peter declared the Lord Jesus Christ is the “Servant of God.” Thus, the statement of Thomas recorded in John 20:28 did not only contradict the teachings of the Lord Jesus, but also the teachings of the other apostles. This proves that Thomas statement was incorrect, not only he forgotten the teaching of His Master, but also contradicted the Lord Jesus and the other apostles.

Let us not be surprised if Thomas made a mistake while not in the act of preaching. It is not surprising that even the apostles can make mistakes while they are not in the act of preaching. The following proves this contention:

“But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:24-27, NKJV)

Remember that when Thomas made the statement recorded in John 20:28 he was not in the act of preaching and he was from a state of unbelief, thus it is not surprising if he committed mistake.

DID THE LORD JESUS CORRECT THOMAS FROM HIS MISTAKE?

Let us again see what really happened through the four Gospels, not only from the Gospel according to John. Let us start with John 20:19-20:

“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:19-20, NKJV)

 When the disciples were assembled, with the doors locked for the fear of the Jews, Jesus came and told them to be at peace. Then He showed to them His hands and side. What was their reaction? The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. However, John further narrated that Thomas was not there that time:

“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.’” (John 20:24-25, NKJV)

When the other disciples told Thomas that they had seen the Lord, Thomas did not believe what they said. He reacted with disbelief and skepticism. He told 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.” By this statement, Thomas became identified with skepticism and disbelief. The disciples were gathered again and Thomas was with them at this time:

“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!’” (John 20:26, NKJV)

The disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Originally, there were twelve apostles. However, Judas committed suicide, thus, when the Bible stated “eleven,” Thomas was with them (Judas was the the one not with them). In John 20:26, Jesus appeared to the “eleven” (Thgomas was with them). This was when Thomas uttered “My Lord and my God”:

“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!’” (John 20:26-28, NKJV)

Mark also reported this event when Jesus appeared to the “eleven” as they were eating:

“And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.” (Mark 16:11-14, NKJV)

Luke also narrated this event when the Lord Jesus appeared to the “eleven”:

“So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, ‘The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!’ And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’ But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.” (Luke 24:33-37 NKJV)

Both Mark and Luke reported this event when the Lord Jesus appeared to the “eleven” (Mark 16:13-14 and Luke 24:33-36). Thus, this was also the event reported by John in John 20:26-28, when Jesus appeared with the “eleven” (including Thomas).

Mark’s report was a generalization of the event: the disciples’ unbelief, the Lord appeared to the “twelve,” and Jesus “rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart.”

Luke made a much detailed report that Mark. In Luke’s report, when the Lord Jesus appeared to the “eleven,” they were terrified and frightened. Thus, it was not only Thomas who was terrified and frightened during that event, but even the other disciples.

Think of the situation before Jesus showed Himself to them: the doors were shut when Jesus abruptly stood in their midst and summoned Thomas to come near to Him. What was Thomas' reaction? A reaction of unbelief and amazement. Is this kind of reaction something that is strange or unusual? No, because according to Luke, Thomas was not the only one caught perplexed but also the rest of his companions. Luke reported that when Jesus appeared abruptly in their midst while the “eleven” were gathered together, they were terrified and frightened.

Because the disciples (not only Thomas but all the “eleven”) were caught perplexed (were terrified and frightened), Luke reported that “and supposed they had seen a spirit.” Luke reported that disciples mistook Jesus for a spirit. John on the other hand reported that Thomas called Jesus “My Lord and my God.” Why it is not wrong to conclude that not only Thomas but the other disciples also mistook Jesus as “God”? Because Jesus Himself taught them that God is spirit:

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24 NKJV)

Did the Lord Jesus Christ confirm what the disciples thought about Him or He rebuke them? Let us continue our reading of Luke’s report

“Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." Luke 24:36-39, NKJV

Take note that the Lord Jesus was speaking to the “eleven” (including Thomas); the “eleven” mistook Jesus for a spirit or mistook Him as “God” (thus not only Thomas but the other apostles also committed the mistake that they mistook Jesus as “God”); but Jesus rebuked them.

In John’s report, Jesus summoned Thomas to reach out his finger, to look at His hands, and to reach out his hand to Him (cf. John 20:27), and then Thomas mistakenly said, “My Lord and my God” (cf. John 20:28). In Luke’s report, not only Thomas but all the “eleven” mistook Jesus for a spirit or mistook Him as “God.”

What did Christ do when they mistook Him for a spirit? He showed them His hands and His feet and told them that a spirit has no flesh and bones (cf. Luke 24:38-39). Notice that before He showed His hands and feet, what did Christ tell them? “Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts?” (cf. Luke 24:38, KJV). Christ was clearly upbraiding them.

Christ’s statements in Luke 24:39 is also tacitly teaching them that He is not God. Remember that prior to this event, The Lord Jesus Christ had earlier instructed the disciples about the nature of God. He taught them that God is a spirit (cf. John 4:24). The apostles mistook Him for a spirit which is tantamount to falsely thinking of Christ as having the same nature as God or being God Himself. Is this only an assumption? The very fact that Thomas stated to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” serves as palpable evidence that they had indeed believed a mistaken identity of Jesus. But, Jesus immediately corrected their wrong conclusion concerning His nature. He emphasized to them that He is not a spirit (Luke 24:39), which is equivalent to saying that He is not God in His state of being.

Jesus’ statement in Luke 24:39 serves as His didactical teaching to anyone who would think of Him as God. The clarification He made to those who thought of Him as a spirit is a reminder to anyone who would mistakenly think of Him as God. Whenever someone has a question regarding the true nature of Jesus Christ, he should be reminded simply about Jesus’ own statements in Luke 24:39 and His acknowledgment of His nature in John 8:40 wherein He emphatically declared:

    

“I am a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that.” (John 8:40, NCV)

                       

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