Doubt is as familiar to the Believer as the stars in the night sky. Like those pinpricks of light, even in the brightest night sky, our doubts wink at us, knowingly. We can ignore those doubts and think they don’t exist. However, it’s our doubts that remind us of our faith. I’ve said it before, we cannot have some doubt without faith.

As I was finishing up Matthew today, I read this verse and started thinking about doubt again.

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Matthew 28:17 (NIV)

The preceding verse tells us, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go” (Matthew 28:16 NIV). Therefore, the “some” who doubted would be some of these guys.

Peter
James
John
Andrew
Nathanael
James, the Lesser or Younger
Thaddeus
Matthew
Philip
Simon, the Zealot
Thomas

These are the apostles. They are not just some random disciples who jumped on the wagon only to get off when they couldn’t hack it. These are the same guys who stuck with Jesus through His most difficult teaching when so many others fell away. Yet some, not just one, so it wasn’t just Thomas, doubted. What did they doubt? They were told by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary by Jesus to go to Galilee and wait for Him (Matthew 28:10). They went to Galilee as they were told, and there they found Jesus waiting for them. Some people think the doubt centered around His identity. Was this really Jesus?

I find it hard to believe the only doubt present was about the identity of Christ. I know how my mind works. There might have been some doubt about His identity. He told them He was going to return, and He told them to meet Him on the mountain. If there was doubt about the identity of Jesus, then I’d expect other doubt.

Was the resurrection authentic? Was the ministry going to continue? How? Jesus was the center of the ministry, and now He was going away.

It’s easy to forget that these guys were a family who had gone through a lot together. They had just lost Judas, saw the Lord crucified, and now He’s back. Things would never be the same for them.

People are too hard on the disciples. They were people just like us. We haven’t been face to face with Jesus in the flesh like them, sure. However, we’ve seen Him do amazing things in and through us. We’ve seen healing and deliverance. Yet, we doubt in hard times and have no doubt about it, these were the start of the most difficult of times for these men.

They would all die for the faith. Except for John, who was reportedly boiled in oil and lived on in exile.

Sometimes doubt can creep into my mind about what God is going to do. I know I think too much about what I can do instead of what God can do through me. I used to have a lot of confidence in myself. Nowadays, I have so little confidence in myself. I know God sees me differently, but sometimes the task looks too big. In these times, I doubt myself and my faith to persevere more than any doubt about God and His ability.

It’s a funny thing. When I fail, I know I’m the one to blame. When I succeed, the credit goes to God. What I see in my failure is growth in Him. I suppose it has to do with focus. Let’s look at Matthew 28:17 again.

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Matthew 28:17 (NIV)

The text say’s “they worshiped him.” Sure, some doubted, but they worshiped Him. They worshiped out of faith. If faith and doubt are two sides of the same coin then it makes sense then. that there would be some doubt there. I’m reminded of something Paul said about the sinful nature and the flesh.

So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

Romans 7:21 (NIV)

This flesh will never be saved, so there will always be some doubt. Whenever there’s good that’s being done in. and through us, there’s our flesh right there too. What matters is what we believe. Do we believe God, or do we believe doubt?

Do you know God? God knows you, and He loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, right now, and He wants you to know Him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, be freed from death, and live eternally with Him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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