• The Explore the Bible lesson for May 28 focuses on Matthew 28:16-20.
It’s a fascinating thing to note. Even after all the disciples had seen with their own eyes and heard with their ears of the life and teachings of Jesus, when the 11 remaining disciples saw the resurrected Lord, we are told “some doubted.” That’s both puzzling and, frankly, comforting to this one attempting to be a Jesus-follower. It’s helpful to know that, among those Jesus accepts as followers, there is even room for doubters.
That’s all we’re told. Some worshipped. Some doubted. The way Jesus responded is all the more telling.
Jesus didn’t enroll his disciples in a course on Christian apologetics on the spot. Instead, Jesus instructed them all, including the doubters, to get busy making disciples. He didn’t argue with them or try to convince them of one thing.
Evidence of authority
Jesus did proclaim, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This wasn’t, or shouldn’t have been, new information to the disciples. Each of them, including the doubters, had witnessed his miracle-working power, the ability to turn nature on its ear to fulfill his divine commission.
They’d also witnessed the authority of his love, even toward those who crucified him. There is no greater witness of one’s true power than the way one responds to those who are abusive. The disciples had seen it all.
Those of us who came after the disciples have the written word of God declaring Jesus as the agent of creation. Jesus “was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him and without him not one thing came into being” (John 1:2-3).
The disciples had even more personal evidence. They’d seen Jesus walk on water, heal the sick and raise the dead, among other things. If that is evidence of nothing else, it is solid gold proof that doubt is first and foremost a moral choice, not an intellectual response to uncertainty. Faith is also a moral choice, first, an intellectual one second, if ever. Faith doesn’t demand that we turn off our minds, only that our minds are subservient to trust, not the other way around.
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How to deal with doubts
Nonetheless, Jesus taught his disciples—and us, too—something about how to deal with doubts. We can only legitimately face them and respond to our doubts by busying ourselves serving instead of pondering. In time, through serving others, our doubts will be resolved, or we’ll find a way accommodating them within our faith.
There is no rule in Scripture that states faith must be doubt-free. In fact, Mark’s Gospel records the story of a father who brought his son to Jesus for healing. The boy was experiencing something that sounds a great deal like epilepsy.
The father begged Jesus to heal the boy. Jesus told the man, if he believed, anything was possible. The father cried out to Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
It’s an incredible and hope-filled witness of Scripture. Jesus makes room among his followers for those who both believe and doubt at the same time. At the same time, instead of arguing his followers out of their doubts, he commands them to get busy serving him by helping others become Jesus-followers, too.
Don’t wait for all the answers
In a church I once served, a young boy wanted to be baptized. His father came to visit me. He was bothered that, even though his son was about to be baptized, he had never done so. He was a very bright young engineer, highly educated.
He reported that he had so many doubts, he didn’t believe he was qualified to be a believer. I then reported that I also had many unresolved doubts, even as a pastor and preacher. He asked, “You mean, I can believe in Jesus without having all my questions answered first?”
I told him that I sure hoped so, because he was describing my own experience. When I told him that, with great relief in his voice, he said, “Well, then, I’m ready to be baptized, too.” That next Sunday I experienced one of the greatest joys of my entire professional ministry when I baptized both father and son at the same time in the same baptismal waters.
Doubts are never resolved by gaining more answers to our questions. Indeed, many of us will live with doubts about this or that related to God until the day we die. Yet, we can doubt and still believe and even serve, thanks be to God!
God is patient with and understanding of our lack of ability to grasp all that faith demands. All he asks is that we not wait until we have all the answers to all of our questions before we busy ourselves in the work of the kingdom of God.
Sometimes, the best remedy for a confused mind is a mind busying itself helping others to find their way to God.
Glen Schmucker is a hospice chaplain in Fort Worth.
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