But some doubted

“ But some doubted “  Matthew 28:17

These words are written by Matthew right at the end of the story. The big events have happened during the last week in Jerusalem. The parade, the turning over of the tables in front of the temple, The final meal, the arrest of Jesus, the trial, the sentencing and the death on a cross. If you  are Christian, you have re-lived these events every year around Good friday and Easter. If you are not a believer, you still know, maybe, that Jesus was killed on a cross.

So, after all of these important events in life of Christianity, Matthew slips in the comment that some doubted right at the end of the story. In Matthew’s story, there have been some sightings of Jesus, post-Resurrection. Then, the disciples, Jesus’ best friends, walked to Galilee to meet with Jesus. Galilee is where Jesus and most of his friends would have grown up. During his three years of telling stories, doing miracles and announcing the Kingdom, they were in and around the cities that knew best . So they are now  standing in front of a mountain, where Jesus had told them to go .

Jesus shows up there, and some immediately worshipped him, but there were others who doubted. Jesus then gives them the famous words of what they are to do. The are to go , make disciples, baptizing the people and teaching all that Jesus has taught them.

But let us back up to the people who doubted. Yes, it is only half a verse, but it looks to me as if some of the disciples, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth, had some doubts about some things. By the way the words are written, it seems that it is some of the disciples who were standing there before Jesus did not all believe in the same way.

Why would Matthew include these words ? Matthew’s biography was written about fifty years after the events of the last week of Jesus’ life . By that time, he could have cleaned it up. And who told Matthew that some of the people closest to Jesus would have had some doubts about the cross or the resurrection of Jesus.  Was it Peter ? John ? Thaddeus ( some of their names ). I find it strange that these words would be included right at the end of the story.

So, what do I do with the doubts that I have in my own life ? The church is made up of people who believe and adore Jesus, but we all have questions or doubts about life and faith and everything. We must admit that our lives have events that do not make sense in terms of our deep faith in Jesus. For example, I pray that God, through Jesus would take away my anxiety and nervousness. I have suffered for a long time. I sing to God that God should “ create in me a clean heart . I do mindfulness , but the thorn in my flesh remains.

God would not be mean, as to not take this illness form my body and soul. So ,what is it ? What should I do about it. ? It brings doubts to my mind. But Matthew says even some of the closest to Jesus had doubts sometimes. Where do your doubts lie in your world. What do you then pray about to God to restore in you a faith without doubts ? I will continue to sing . Discuss.