Category Archives: Apostle John

My Lord and my God – John 20:26-28

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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!”

History has somehow given Thomas the nickname Doubting Thomas. Maybe it is at least a little bit deserved, since he wanted to not only see, but touch, the risen Jesus before he would believe. Then again, all his friends had already had a resurrection appearance of Christ. Nobody likes to be the only one left out.

When Jesus appears among them again eight days later, the Lord singles Thomas out asking him to touch his wounds. Thomas’s response is one of the clearest declarations of the deity of Christ anywhere in the Bible.

“My Lord and my God” is not just an exclamation pointed at a God who is only God knows where. It is an expression of worship directed at Jesus who is standing right before the previously doubting apostle. And, as he is prone to do, Christ accepts the worship of his follower.

In a society and religious culture that essentially defined monotheism for the world, Jesus is willing to be worshiped. Thomas is willing to worship him and proclaim him his Lord and God. We also may be aware that a similar designation, Dominus et Deus, was applied to the Roman emperor Domitian, who likely was on the throne at the time of John’s writing.

This is then a pointed statement. No one deserves the titles “My Lord and my God” other than Jesus. To worship him is not only appropriate, it is required.

John 19 – Verse by Verse

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The crucifixion of Jesus Christ pays the price for our salvation. Subplots include fulfilled prophecy, Christ’s rejection by the chief priests and the moral dilemma faced by Pontius Pilate.

John 19.pdf    

John 19.mp3

Here is a link to the livestream video:

https://fb.watch/1E3tMQpwe3/

A Prayer Prompted by John 19

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Father in heaven,

You have glorified the name of Jesus now and forever by sending him to die on the cross.

In Christ you fulfilled your perfect plan, which was the plan for our redemption. There is no greater love.

Help us to never look lightly on the cross of Jesus Christ.  And help us to live for you.

Teach us to do what is right, even when we face the most difficult moral dilemmas, choosing you over self-interest and even over human authority every time.

And help us to love one another through great self-sacrifice, even as Christ loves us.

In Christ,
Amen

Christ’s finished work – John 19:28-30

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28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

To the very end, Christ was in control of the situation. We might be reminded of what he said back in John 10:17-18.

17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Fully conscious that it was time for his life to end, “that all was now finished,” he utters the words “I thirst.” to fulfill the Scripture. We might here go back to Psalm 69. In v.3 it says, “my throat is parched.” Later in v.21, “for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.” Christ’s entire life, including his death on the cross was death on the cross was tied firmly to the Jewish Scriptures.

His sacrificial death comes with the words, “It is finished.” He then gave up his life.

In Luke 12:50, Jesus said,

I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 

That “baptism” was finally accomplished here on the cross. His work was complete. The prophecies were fulfilled. Our redemption is accomplished once and for all. Psalm 22, the psalm that starts with the cry “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ends with the words that seem to point to Christ’s finished work.

30 Posterity shall serve him;
    it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;
31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn,
    that he has done it.