After Jesus’ resurrection he made many appearances to his followers. He appeared to two of them while they traveled to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), to over 500 disciples at one point prior to his ascension (1 Cor. 15:6), and to the twelve disciples (1 Cor. 15:5, John 20:19). In that appearance passage at the end of John’s gospel is an account of a conversation between Thomas and the risen Jesus:

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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.”
26 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.” 27 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.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (ESV)

The passage above picks up at the end of a larger section where Jesus appeared to the disciples (v. 19) and Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (v. 11). The exclamation of Thomas in verse 28 is where our focus ought to be. Thomas feels the wounds in Jesus’ sides and, realizing the reality of the resurrection, exclaims what naturally comes to the lips of every true believer, “My Lord and my God!”

The Greek of John 20:28

The Greek text which lies behind the words in John 20:28 are as follows:

ἀπεκρίθη Θωμᾶς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου.

ἀπεκρίθη Θωμᾶς (literally, “answered Thomas”) means “Thomas answered.” The verb coming before the subject is common in Greek. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· (literally, “and he said to him”) is fairly straightforward. The period in the middle of the line “ · ” normally indicates a semicolon, which in this verse separates the narration from the words of Thomas. ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου (literally, “the lord of me and the God of me”) is translated by the KJV, NKJV, ASV, RSV, NAB, NRSV, ESV, NIV, NASB, and most other translations, as “my lord and my God.” And, to avoid the charge of not being thorough, there is a period after the second μου. to indicate that Thomas’ words were now complete.

Jesus’ Reaction

There are 2 points which we ought to bear in mind: Thomas was addressing Jesus, and Jesus recognized his reaction as one of believing faith.

Thomas Was Addressing Jesus

Jesus was engages in conversation with Thomas. Verses 24 through 26a set up the scene, noting that Thomas was previously absent during the encounter described in verses 19 through 23, and that eight days later he was now present. Jesus miraculously appeared inside of a locked room, addressed the group “peace be with you” (v. 26b) and then addressed Thomas directly “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe” (v. 27). You could imagine Jesus pausing for Thomas to put his finger in the holes in Jesus’ hands, and then again for him to place his hand in the wound in Jesus’ side. For this to happen they were likely standing close to one another, close enough for Thomas to touch Jesus at his invitation.

It would not be surprising if there were even more words exchanged between Thomas and Jesus, as much of the Gospels contain (inspired) summaries of conversations, sermons, etc. What we have here is likely a snapshot from a larger conversation which John wanted to highlight for the sake of his readers. Remember that his purpose for writing his gospel was articulated three verses later: “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (20:31). John is highlighting the portion of the conversation which will promote belief in Jesus.

Thomas feels Jesus’ wounded hands and side and his faith is bolstered. In a moment of exclamation, he says “my Lord and my God” to Jesus. That little word αὐτῷ (“to him”) overlooked by those who desire to excuse themselves from belief in Jesus as God. Thomas did not just shout into the air “My God!” as though he had stubbed his toe or smashed his finger under a hammer. He addressed Jesus with the entire phrase “My Lord and My God!”

Jesus’ Reaction to Thomas’ Words

Jesus, upon hearing Thomas call him his “Lord” and his “God” was not to refute or correct him. If angels will turn down worship because such words ought only be spoken to God alone (see Rev. 19:10; 22:8), should not a mere human likewise have objected to such blasphemy? Those who maintain that the Son was a created being, but not God, like to call him a servant of God much like those angels who refused John’s worship. Why then did Jesus affirm Thomas in his statement?

Jesus said to him (αὐτῷ), “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Whatever doubt Thomas harbored was dispelled when he touched Jesus’ wounded hands and side. He now believed without reservation that Jesus was not only Lord and God, but his Lord and his God. His faith was personal, and the object of his faith was standing before him in the flesh. For Thomas to call Jesus God required a deep, personal faith. No doubt the other disciples heard him. Imagine their reaction if Thomas had got it wrong. If Jesus was not God there would be eleven witnesses (12 if you count Jesus) to this blasphemous utterance. Neither Jesus nor the other eleven saw fit to interrupt, for they all shared in this belief, that Jesus was their Lord and their God.