SOME DOUBTED

It is likely that this took place on top of Mount Arbel, the tallest hill on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, with a commanding view of the region and across the lake to the “foreign” peoples beyond. This meeting was in response to Jesus’ resurrection-morning instruction to His disciples to meet Him at “the mountain where Jesus had told them to go” (Matthew 28:16). So it is notable that Matthew included both responses to Jesus—they worshiped, but some doubted. The resurrected Jesus was standing in front of them.

Many of them would have witnessed His death, so it is hardly surprising that some of them would have questions and much that they did not understand.

But this did not exclude them from the story, the invitation, or the commission. Some doubted—yet we are told about them. The Gospel writer did not need to include this troubling detail in the climactic announcement and conclusion of his story of Jesus.

But he did. He understood that it was an important reality to note that faith and doubt are not always incompatible or so far apart. Some doubted—yet they were invited, and they were there. Neither Matthew nor Jesus felt that the doubts of some members of this crowd of disciples should exclude them from being invited. But it is also interesting that these doubting followers of Jesus did not see this as a reason not to be there.

They did not know or understand everything about Him—but they showed up anyway. Some doubted—yet they were commissioned.

Again, neither Matthew nor Jesus argued that those who doubted should be excluded or excused from the call to mission that was to come (see Matthew 28:18–20).

These followers of Jesus did not need to have all the answers before they could step out and speak up to share what they did know about Him.