The deity of Jesus - My Lord and my God.

Jun 28, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: From Skeptic’s Demand to Worship’s Surrender

Thomas insisted on physical proof—nail-scarred hands, a wounded side—to believe resurrection. Yet when Jesus stood before him, he collapsed into worship without touching a thing. His demand for direct evidence dissolved in the presence of the living Christ. This moment reveals how faith often blooms not in certainty, but in surrendered encounter. Jesus meets doubt not with arguments, but with himself. The question isn’t evidence, but whether we’ll let his presence rewrite our demands. [01:08:30]

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29, NIV)

Reflection: Where in your life are you insisting on “proof” before trusting Jesus? How might his presence, not answers, meet you there?

Day 2: Ten Facets Proving the Diamond of Deity

Forgiving sins, calming storms, accepting worship—Jesus didn’t just point to God; he did what only God does. Like a diamond’s facets reflecting light from every angle, Christ’s actions across Scripture collectively declare his divinity. No single miracle proves it, but together they form an unshakable case. Faith rests not on one moment, but the cumulative weight of a life only God could live. [55:29]

“Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?” (Mark 2:7-8, NIV)

Reflection: Which facet of Jesus’ divine authority (forgiveness, power over nature, etc.) most anchors your faith today?

Day 3: Peace Through Locked Doors and Locked Hearts

The disciples huddled behind barred doors, fearing religious leaders and their own failure. Jesus didn’t knock—he materialized, offering peace before addressing their doubts. His first resurrection act wasn’t rebuke but reassurance. Anxiety still builds walls; Jesus still walks through them. True peace comes not from solved problems, but the presence that transcends them. [46:54]

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19, NIV)

Reflection: What “locked door” situation are you facing? How might Jesus’ presence redefine your need for control?

Day 4: Cold-Case Faith—When Circumstantial Evidence Convicts

Detectives build cases through cumulative details, not just eyewitnesses. Thomas’ three years with Jesus—healings, teachings, love—were circumstantial evidence for deity. Yet he fixated on needing direct proof. Faith often grows not in dramatic signs, but the quiet weight of God’s consistent character across time. What we call “circumstantial” may be God’s patient handwriting. [52:54]

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe. (John 20:30-31, NIV)

Reflection: What “small evidence” of God’s faithfulness have you overlooked while waiting for a sign?

Day 5: From Doubt to Diaspora—When Believers Become Bridges

Labeled “Doubting Thomas,” he became Christianity’s first missionary to India, founding churches still vibrant today. His story didn’t end at confession but launched into global impact. Resurrection faith isn’t meant for locked rooms but for carrying peace across borders. Every moment of surrender becomes fuel for others’ belief. [01:13:14]

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19, NIV)

Reflection: What step could you take this week to turn your faith from private assurance to public witness?

Sermon Summary

John sets Resurrection Sunday evening in a locked room thick with fear. Jesus steps into that room and speaks first things first: “Peace be with you,” then shows hands and side so that joy explodes where anxiety sat. Thomas is absent and later stakes his ground on direct evidence, “Unless I see… I will not believe.” Thomas, then, is not empty of belief; he believes in the brutal finality of death, in the permanence of a tomb that never backtracks. A week later Jesus returns with the same gift, “Peace be with you,” and turns to Thomas with a gracious invitation to examine the wounds. The confession rises faster than the fingers move: “My Lord and my God.”

The claim that Jesus is God does not stand on titles alone. The case reads like a ten‑faceted diamond of circumstantial evidence, each facet reflecting Scripture’s unique prerogatives of God now shining in Jesus’ own actions. God forgives sins; Jesus looks at the paralyzed man and says, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” God alone tames the sea; Jesus stands and commands, “Be quiet. Be still,” and the wind remembers its Maker. God alone receives worship; the healed blind man bows, and Jesus does not refuse him. The Lord comes to his temple; Jesus cleanses the courts and calls it “my house.” God sanctifies the Sabbath; Jesus declares, “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” God gives life and raises the dead; Jesus calls, “Lazarus, come forth.” God is the fountain of eternal life; Jesus promises, “I give them eternal life, and no one can snatch them out of my hand.” God pours out the Spirit; Jesus sends the Counselor. God names himself I AM; Jesus answers, “Before Abraham was, I am.” Jesus then seals it: “I am the resurrection and the life.”

The contrast between direct and circumstantial evidence clarifies the way faith grows. Thomas demands touch, but the accumulated works of Jesus already bear a converging witness strong enough to stand in any courtroom. The risen Lord answers both kinds of doubt with peace, not scorn, and turns a skeptic into a herald. Thomas eventually carries that confession eastward, and worship still rises in the churches planted under his scarred‑hand gospel.

Key Takeaways

1. Doubt often trusts death’s finality Thomas does not lack belief; he trusts the consistency of graves and the nonnegotiable silence of tombs. That kind of doubt is faith pointed at the wrong horizon. The risen Jesus redirects that trust by standing inside the room death supposedly locks from the outside. Faith becomes sane when it treats resurrection as more ultimate than decay. [49:37]
2. Jesus’ peace precedes transformation “Peace be with you” lands before correction, commission, or explanation. Peace is not the prize for getting belief right; it is the atmosphere in which belief heals. Fear yields when Christ’s presence names the room, and only then do wounds become invitations rather than proofs demanded at knifepoint. [51:20]
3. Actions reveal deity more than titles Christ is not divine because a badge says so; his works carry God’s fingerprints. Forgiving sins, stilling chaos, receiving worship, cleansing the temple, ruling the Sabbath, giving life, bestowing the Spirit, naming himself I AM, and promising resurrection all converge. Titles make sense because the deeds have already drawn the outline. [43:53]
4. Evidence accumulates into resilient faith A single eyewitness can be challenged, but converging lines of evidence build a sturdy lattice that can bear weight. The more Scripture’s God‑only prerogatives show up in Jesus’ life, the less room there is for alternative explanations. Mature faith does not fear scrutiny; it welcomes the slow strength that comes from gathered, tested reasons. [54:09]
5. Confession crowns sight with surrender Thomas’ climax is not a theory but a prayer: “My Lord and my God.” Sight becomes worship when sovereignty becomes personal possession and allegiance. That confession is the doorway where anxiety starts to starve and obedience starts to sing. [68:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:57] - Nicknames and Doubting Thomas setup
[41:32] - Summer Christology series review
[43:28] - Why Jesus’ deity matters today
[44:19] - Resurrection evening in John 20
[46:24] - Peace in a locked room
[48:28] - Thomas demands direct proof
[50:07] - A week of unresolved belief
[51:20] - Jesus returns with peace for Thomas
[52:11] - Building a case: kinds of evidence
[55:29] - The ten‑facet diamond metaphor
[56:22] - Facet 1: Forgives sins
[57:53] - Facets 2–3: Calms sea, receives worship
[61:14] - Facets 4–5: Temple and Sabbath authority
[63:24] - Facets 6–8: Life, eternal life, Spirit
[66:48] - Facets 9–10: I AM and Resurrection
[68:17] - Stop doubting and believe
[68:30] - “My Lord and my God”
[71:56] - Choose peace over anxiety
[72:50] - Thomas’ mission to India
[74:13] - Closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 20:24-29 (ESV)
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.”

Observation questions

What specific conditions did Thomas set for believing Jesus had risen (John 20:25)?
How did Jesus address Thomas’ doubt when He appeared to him (John 20:26-27)?
In the sermon, what two types of evidence were compared to explain how faith grows (direct vs. circumstantial)? [52:54]
What actions of Jesus in the Bible were highlighted as proof of His deity (e.g., forgiving sins, calming storms)? [43:53]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to show His wounds to Thomas instead of simply rebuking his doubt?
Thomas’ confession, “My Lord and my God,” is a radical statement. What does this reveal about how encountering Jesus changes our understanding of His identity?
How does the idea of “circumstantial evidence” (like Jesus’ miracles and authority) build a stronger case for faith than relying solely on direct experiences? [54:09]
The sermon said, “Jesus’ peace precedes transformation.” Why might peace be necessary before belief or obedience can fully take root? [51:20]

Application questions

Thomas doubted because he trusted death’s finality. Are there areas in your life where you’ve accepted a “finality” (e.g., failure, loss, fear) instead of trusting God’s power to bring life? How can you shift that focus? [49:37]
Jesus met Thomas’ doubt with grace, not shame. How can you extend that same grace to someone in your life who is wrestling with doubts or questions about faith?
The sermon emphasized that Jesus’ actions (forgiving sins, calming storms, etc.) reveal His deity more than titles. Which of Jesus’ actions or promises do you need to meditate on this week to strengthen your trust in Him?
Thomas’ story ends with worship: “My Lord and my God.” What practical step can you take this week to turn a area of anxiety or doubt into an act of surrender and worship? [01:08:30]
The sermon mentioned Thomas later carrying the gospel eastward. Who in your life needs to hear about the “accumulated evidence” of Jesus’ power and love? How can you share it with them? [01:12:50]

Sermon Clips

41s

#ChoosePeaceTrustGod

“``Stop doubting. You read the headlines and you're going, god, where are you today? You you you look at your circumstances and your situation. You, god, where are you today? And start worshiping by giving him control. You can't control what's going on in the world, but you can totally give him control of your life and your heart. You can say, god, you're in control today. I choose peace over anxiety. I choose to trust that you conquered sin and you conquered death and you have forgiven me and you have redeemed me and you have reconciled me and you have saved me.”

45s

#BreakFaithBarriers

“So my question for us as we wrap up this sermon is, what is holding you back from living in by faith? What is holding you back? Is it fear? Is it failure? Are you thinking that you'll be a fool if you tell others that you're a Christian? Is it stubbornness? Is it shyness? Oh, I can't do that. I'm shy. Is it shame? Because, well, you don't know what I used to do. What is preventing you from really moving forward in your faith? Is it anxiety, apprehension, authority? I don't have the authority to tell people. You do.”

40s

#CleansingTheTemple

“And we see Jesus having a passion for the temple because what happens what happens is in Matthew chapter 21, Jesus takes that temple and he cleanses out the temple. He says, my house shall not be a house of thieves, a den of robbers. He clears it out. He didn't ask for the priest's permission. He didn't ask for the temple guard permission. He just went and he said, this is my house. He's claiming the temple as his own. Church. Church, Jesus desires. Yes. He overturned the tables, the money changers, and the benches, and those clearing.”

30s

#SabbathForPeople

“Jesus is walking with his disciples on the Sabbath. They pick some grain, the disciples do, and they start chewing out. I don't know if you've ever had raw wheat grain. It is horrible. It's not something that you're gonna have to say, oh, I'm looking forward to that. It's gonna be something that you gotta really gnaw at that. And his disciples eat it. The Pharisees say, these guys are working on the Sabbath. They're breaking the law, and Jesus responds to them. The Sabbath was made for man. Listen to Jesus' words. Not man for the Sabbath.”

28s

#ApplauseNotBelief

“Many of you have friends a lot like this. They're excited about your faith. They they encourage your faith. They they support your faith. They they you go to church. Yay. You got family who go to church. You go to church. Hey, man. You're doing great. And you talk to them, but they don't believe. They have not given their life and their heart to Jesus. They're applauding you like Thomas would be that whole week, man. I love you and I'm gonna be with you and I'm your friend.”

42s

#LiveByFaithNow

“I think that Thomas just saw Jesus, and then I think Thomas saw that and Thomas said, my lord and my god. I don't think Thomas actually needed the direct evidence anymore. Right? He had all of that circumstantial evidence and then all he does is he sees Jesus and he goes, oh, my lord and my god. My lord and my god. Church today, my challenge to us is this. My challenge is for us, for us to be unlike Thomas and stop doubting and start living in faith, to start living in faith.”

33s

#CaseForJesus

“Amen. See, we've got five things we already he forgives sins. He's calmed the sea. He's received worship. He's cleansed the temple. He's claimed authority over the Sabbath. What I'm doing is looking at the circumstantial evidence, and I'm calling you a jury. And I'm saying, jury, is Jesus divine? I'm giving you all of this evidence, this circumstantial evidence that says the evidence of who God is and the evidence of what Jesus did. You get to make the decision. Is Jesus divine? Is he God? Yes.”

35s

#BringLifeToTheDead

“Church, that's our job. Our job when dead things come to life. Our job is to come next to our friends, our family members, and start removing the clothes of death and start clothing them with righteousness and and those things that Jesus provides for us. We are to remove the dead clothes from dead people who come to life. That's our job. Okay. Just as the father raises the dead, so the son of man gives life to whom he wishes. Jesus brings life to dead people.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Colton Community Church This sermon · AI assistant

What circumstantial evidence supports Jesus' divinity?

How does Jesus mirror Old Testament divine actions?

What prevented Thomas from immediately believing the resurrection?

The deity of Jesus - My Lord and my God.

Devotional

Day 1: From Skeptic’s Demand to Worship’s Surrender

Day 2: Ten Facets Proving the Diamond of Deity

Day 3: Peace Through Locked Doors and Locked Hearts

Day 4: Cold-Case Faith—When Circumstantial Evidence Convicts

Day 5: From Doubt to Diaspora—When Believers Become Bridges

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

The deity of Jesus - My Lord and my God.

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