Read
What Jesus' Followers
(Mark 16.14-18; Luke 24.36-49; John 20.19-23; Acts 1.6-8)
16 Jesus' eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him. 17They saw him and worshiped him, but some of them doubted.
18Jesus came to them and said:
I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19 Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.
Reflect
Do you struggle with doubt? If so, you’re in good company. Even more importantly, it doesn’t seem to bother Jesus. He can handle it.
The reality of doubt surfaces in two of the Gospel stories about Jesus. Both John and Matthew include the record of doubting disciples as they set down the story of Jesus and his disciples.
John tells readers about Thomas’ doubt, but here, as Matthew concludes his story of Jesus life and message, he lays the mantle of doubt on the group of disciples. We don’t know who the doubters were exactly, but we know there was more than one. We know there was doubt among those closest to Jesus. We know Thomas was not alone in his uncertainty.
In this passage, Matthew takes us to a mountain, where Jesus has summoned his disciples. He is not long for this earth. Very soon after he meets his disciples here, Jesus will return to heaven.
We have no record that he addresses their doubt, although he may have, for we know he did so with Thomas. But, thanks to Matthew, we do have a record of their doubt. We know they responded to the call of Jesus, we know they worshipped him, and we know some of them were doubtful.
I wonder what they doubted.
That Jesus was the Messiah? That following him was still worth it? That they could carry on without him?
Jesus steps into the midst of their questions with a declaration, a command and a promise. It is the same declaration, command and promise he has for us today.
“I am the Messiah!”
“Do the work I have called you to do!”
“I will be working alongside you.”
Doubt does not seem to matter to Jesus. He is more interested that we respond to his call. The disciples show up. That is enough for Jesus.
Respond
Jesus, you and I both know that doubt is a reality in my life. Thank you for understanding that sometimes I am doubtful, that I struggle with questions, and that my faith is tenuous at times. Help me to respond to your call, even when I am doubtful.
Amen.
Geri Rodman
Under Geri’s leadership, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada is focused on a 10-year goal of Launching 20,000 Extraordinary Kingdom Leaders by 2020. "We believe God will launch youth and students as Kingdom Leaders who are so transformed by Jesus that nothing will stop their enormous zeal for the things of God." Geri was appointed president of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada in 2002, after spending 23 years leading the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA ministry in Northern California and Hawaii. Educated at the University of Toronto and Wheaton College, Geri is currently enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry program at Gordon-Conwell. She serves on the boards of, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Water Ambassadors Canada.