J C Ryle
We should mark how kind and merciful Christ is to dull and slow believers.
Nowhere perhaps, in all the four Gospels, do we find this part of our Lord’s character so beautifully illustrated as in the story before our eyes. It is hard to imagine anything more tiresome and provoking than the conduct of Thomas, when even the testimony of ten faithful brethren had no effect on him and he doggedly declared that, unless he would see with his own eyes and touch with his own hands, he would not believe. But it is impossible to imagine anything more patient and compassionate than the Lord’s treatment of this weak disciple. He does not reject him or dismiss him or excommunicate him. He comes again at the end of a week, and apparently for the special benefit of Thomas. He deals with him according to his weakness, like a gentle nurse dealing with a froward child: “Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side”. If nothing but the grossest, most material evidence could satisfy him, even that evidence was supplied. Surely this was a love that passes knowledge and a patience that passes understanding.
A passage of Scripture like this, we need not doubt, was written for the special comfort of all true believers. The Holy Ghost knew well that the dull, the slow, the stupid and the doubting are by far the commonest type of disciples in this evil world. The Holy Ghost has taken care to supply abundant evidence that Jesus is rich in patience as well as compassion, and that He bears with the infirmities of all His people. Let us take care that we drink in the Lord’s spirit and copy His example. Let us never set men down in a low place, as graceless and godless, because their faith is feeble and their love is cold. Let us remember the case of Thomas and be very pitiful and of tender mercy.
Our Lord has many weak children in His family, many dull pupils in His school, many raw soldiers in His army, many lame sheep in His flock. Yet He bears with them all and casts none away. Happy is that Christian who has learned to deal likewise with His brethren. There are many in the Church who, like Thomas, are dull and slow; but for all that, like Thomas, they are real and true believers.
We should mark also in these verses, how Christ was addressed by a disciple as “God” without prohibition or rebuke on His part.
The noble exclamation which burst from the lips of Thomas, when convinced that his Lord had risen indeed – the noble exclamation, “My Lord and my God” – admits of only one meaning. It was a distinct testimony to the blessed Lord’s divinity. It was a clear, unmistakable declaration that Thomas believed Him to be, not only man, but God. Above all, it was a testimony which our Lord received and did not prohibit, and a declaration which He did not say one word to rebuke.
When Cornelius fell down at the feet of Peter and would have worshipped him, the Apostle refused such honour at once: “Stand up; I myself also am a man” (Acts 10:26). When the people of Lystra would have done sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, “they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you” (Acts 14:14). But when Thomas says to Jesus, “My Lord and my God”, the words do not elicit a syllable of reproof from the holy and truth-loving Master. Can we doubt that these things were written for our learning?
Let us settle it firmly in our minds that the divinity of Christ is one of the grand foundation truths of Christianity, and let us be willing to go to the stake rather than let it go. Unless our Lord Jesus is very God of very God, there is an end of His mediation, His atonement, His advocacy, His priesthood, His whole work of redemption. These glorious doctrines are useless blasphemies, unless Christ is divine. Let us bless God for ever that the divinity of Christ is taught everywhere in the Scriptures and stands on evidence that can never be overthrown. Above all, let us daily repose our sinful souls on Christ with undoubting confidence, as one who is perfect God as well as perfect man. He is man and therefore can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He is God and therefore is “able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him”. That Christian has no cause to fear who can look to Jesus by faith and say with Thomas: “My Lord and my God”. With such a Saviour we need not be afraid to begin the life of real religion, and with such a Saviour we may boldly go on.
1Taken, with editing, from Expository Thoughts on John, vol 3. Here is a section of Ryle’s general comments on John 20:24-31.