Disciples

It is hard to overcome doubts.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:16-20

At the end of Matthew's Gospel, we don't have the scene we have in John, where Jesus appears to the eleven and Thomas has doubts.

In this version, all we have is this paragraph, where Jesus appears to them and some doubted.

What did they doubt?  Was it that Jesus was really before them after having risen?

Or did they doubt that they could carry on in his name after he was killed for his beliefs?

The commission he gives them is a big one, to make disciples of all nations, but they knew how to do that.  They had already been out there, among the people, baptizing and preaching the Good News.

So, they could do this.  Why doubt?

Before they had Jesus to come back to, to tell them what they did wrong and take away their fears.  Now, they will be alone.

Yet, Jesus tells them he will be with them always.

They will be OK.  They will not be alone.  Just as we are OK and not alone.  We can do anything with Jesus who is always with us.

So, maybe we should wash away our fears and stopping doubting our abilities.  We can do the impossible, if we remember that Christ is with us.

Go.  Do.  Be disciples and heal the world.

More to come...