How does John 20:28 connect with Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah? Setting the Scene After the resurrection, Jesus appears to the disciples. Thomas, who had doubted the earlier reports, now sees the risen Christ. Confronted with the physical evidence of Jesus’ wounds, he exclaims: “Thomas answered Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:28) Thomas’s Confession in John 20:28 • “My Lord” (Greek: ho kurios mou) echoes Old Testament believers addressing YHWH. • “My God” (Greek: ho theos mou) openly identifies Jesus with the divine title reserved for the God of Israel. • In one spontaneous sentence, Thomas affirms both the sovereignty and deity of Jesus—exactly what the Scriptures said the Messiah would embody. Old Testament Foundations for a Divine Messiah • Isaiah 7:14 — “They will call Him Immanuel” (lit. “God with us”). • Isaiah 9:6 — “His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” • Psalm 45:6–7 — “Your throne, O God, endures forever,” yet the One addressed is also “anointed” by God, tying kingship with deity. • Micah 5:2 — The ruler from Bethlehem has “origins from the days of eternity.” • Daniel 7:13–14 — The “Son of Man” receives everlasting dominion, worshipped by all peoples—honor due only to God. • Zechariah 12:10 — YHWH says, “They will look on Me whom they have pierced,” merging divine identity with the pierced Messiah. Specific Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus • Virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14) → fulfilled in Luke 1:34–35. • Child called “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6) → affirmed in John 1:1,14; Thomas echoes it in John 20:28. • Eternal throne of God’s anointed (Psalm 45:6–7) → confirmed in Hebrews 1:8–9 applying the psalm to Jesus. • Birth in Bethlehem with eternal origins (Micah 5:2) → fulfilled in Matthew 2:1–6. • Pierced yet divine (Zechariah 12:10) → realized at the cross (John 19:34–37). • Universal worship of the “Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13–14) → foreshadowed in Matthew 28:17; Revelation 5:13. Why Thomas’s Words Matter Today • They tie the resurrection event to centuries-old prophetic promises. • They confirm that believing in Jesus as Messiah necessarily involves acknowledging His full deity. • They demonstrate the seamless unity between Old and New Testaments: the Messiah foretold by the prophets is the risen Lord encountered by Thomas. |
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