💫WEB · John 20:28
What does John 20:28 mean?
"Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”"
— John 20:28 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;
but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Explanation
John 20:28 records the moment when Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, finally sees the risen Jesus face to face and responds with this exclamation of worship and recognition: "My Lord and my God!" In plain language, Thomas is no longer doubting—he is declaring, in the clearest possible terms, exactly who Jesus is. This isn't a casual expression of surprise like people might use the phrase today; it is a direct confession of faith addressed to Jesus himself.
The context matters greatly here. Thomas had not been present when Jesus first appeared to the other disciples after the resurrection (John 20:19-23). When the others told him "We have seen the Lord," Thomas famously replied that he would not believe unless he could see the nail marks in Jesus's hands and put his hand into his side (John 20:25). This earned him the nickname "Doubting Thomas" in later Christian tradition. A week later, Jesus appears again, this time with Thomas present, and specifically invites him to touch his wounds and stop doubting. John, writing his Gospel likely toward the end of the first century, includes this account as part of his larger purpose stated just a few verses later in John 20:31: "these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name."
Theologically, this verse is one of the most direct affirmations of Jesus's divinity found anywhere in the Gospels. Thomas doesn't merely say "my Lord," which could be a term of respect for a teacher or master. He adds "my God
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