Jesus appeared many times to people after rising from the dead. He showed Himself to Mary Magdalene near the garden tomb (John 20:11-17). He appeared to many of His closest disciples behind locked doors (John 20:19-23). He appeared to two of His followers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). He even appeared to more than 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:6).
But perhaps the most dramatic of Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances was His encounter with Thomas, who had not been present when Jesus appeared to the rest of His closest circle of followers. John recorded the event in his Gospel:
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:24-29, ESV).
Ever since, of course, Thomas has been branded as “doubting Thomas.” But I don’t think that’s fair. He could just as easily be called “confessing Thomas” or “praying Thomas,” because his exclamation–“My Lord and my God!”–is among the first post-Resurrection prayers the Gospels record (the first was probably Mary Magdalene’s one-word, “Rabboni!” in John 20:16).
In fact, Thomas’s prayer can be a great way to pray during the Easter season. Try it. Begin your post-Resurrection-Sunday prayers with Thomas’s post-Resurrection prayer. When you rise in the morning, greet your Savior: “My Lord and my God!”
As you bow your head in gratitude for a meal, begin: “My Lord and my God!” When you intercede for a friend or someone in need, say, “My Lord and my God!” When you lay your head on your pillow at night, whisper: “My Lord and my God!”
Try it, and please let me know in the comments that you did.
