Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 ESV)
Fear Not… then Worship
We often call the Apostle Thomas, “doubting.” And he did doubt. We could also add adjectives like fearful, timid, worried, or hesitant. Because he does seem to be those things, too.
But at the end of this episode, he has left fear behind. Thomas is no longer afraid, timid, worried, or hesitant. Instead, in a simple format, Thomas worships.
His exclamation does not include a Call to Worship, two Hymns, a Congregational Prayer, or a Sermon. But it is worship, nonetheless.
From start to finish, worshippers declare, “my Lord and my God!”
Thomas is not one of the major actors in the book of Acts. He is listed as among the apostles gathered in Jerusalem after the Ascension of Jesus to heaven. (Acts 1:13) But Thomas is not one of the key evangelists or martyrs described in Acts.
Maybe because here, standing among the remnant of his fears, Thomas does enough. He worships. He worships because now that fear is gone, he can. He worships because now that fear is gone, He can see Jesus as He is. He worships because now that fear is gone… there is nothing better or higher to do.
In those peaceful-ish moments after fear has been vanquished, we get to do the same thing. On Sunday, yes! But in the moment at home, in the car, at work, in the middle of the night. Do not let fear be defeated without following Thomas’s example.
Fear not, then worship.