Doubting

Doubting

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. ¹⁷ When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

Matthew 28:11-15

What a rollercoaster ride the apostles must have had. They went from being nobodies with regular jobs to being in the center of a life and world changing series of events. They met this man who changed their lives. The way he spoke and what he spoke about ignited a flame inside their hearts. The miracles he did left them in awe and wonderment. It made them question who this man could possibly be. His character was like nothing they had ever seen before. He was truly a good and loving man. There was no malice or envy in his heart. He helped so many people but also made a lot of enemies.

Then Jesus was arrested. Most of the apostles ran away but a few watched from a distance. Their hero didn’t fight but let himself be condemned and killed on a cross. Their lives seemed to give out from under them. But then Jesus appeared to them again and the tomb where he was laid was empty. Could he really be alive?

Up and down their hearts must have fluctuated. Then he tells them to go to a mountain where he will leave them, physically, again. When they saw him, they worshiped him but…

That but for me is so interesting. They were watching Jesus up there in the sky, slowly rising and yet they could still find doubt in their hearts. They heard his voice as he spoke and yet there was room for doubt. These were the same men who witnessed everything that Jesus did but they could still have doubt.

And then there’s us. Two thousand years have passed. Jesus has been up in heaven that whole time. We, unlike the apostles, live by a faith without a physical memory. We didn’t see him walk on water or multiply bread and fish. No. We must believe without seeing… or do we?

Jesus might be in heaven but he is still working here on earth. Miracles happen every day and we can see them if we have our eyes and mind open. If the apostles who saw so much could still doubt, how important is it for us to also see God working around us. Let us not get so busy that we ignore what God is doing.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto