Matthew 28:16-17 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
These two verses are at the end of Matthew’s gospel. Prior to these verses, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to the tomb and they encounter an angel who proclaims that Jesus is risen and they are to tell the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee. On their way to the disciples, they encounter Jesus, himself, on the path and he also tells them to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee.
So, the disciples go to Galilee to the mountain Jesus directed them to. There they see Jesus, alive! Resurrected, but somehow different. We read, “When they saw him, they worshiped him.” They see the teacher in the flesh, and they can’t do anything but worship him. Their eyes are opened to the glory of God in Christ Jesus standing right in front of them. What amazes me is that even with the evidence of the risen Jesus right in front of them “some doubted.”
So why are we surprised that without physically seeing the risen Lord we find doubt in our hearts and our minds? That’s normal. I don’t see doubt as the opposite of faith. Instead, I see doubt as part of faith. When I find myself in the midst of a doubt-storm the Spirit intercedes through many different avenues and people, leading me through this time of doubt and bringing me spiritual healing. I also find that when I come out on the other side of the storm my understanding of faith is in an even better place. This is why I see doubt and faith as two sides of the same coin.
When I am in the midst of doubt, I find that if I focus more on my prayer life, my worship life, my study of the Word, and/or my engagement with other disciples, God will use these gifts in bringing me to wholeness. May God lead you through the doubts in your life.
Pastor Tim
