Doubt, Worship, & the Great Commission

Matthew 28:16-20 ESV - 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

This passage, usually called "the Great Commission," has served as the rallying cry for the Church since Jesus said it 2000 years ago.  Most people begin quoting this passage with the words of Jesus in verse 18, but too often we forget about verses 16 and 17.

The eleven disciples (Judas was gone) gathered at a mountain where Jesus had directed them.  You can't help seeing allusions to Moses and the giving of the Law to the Israelites.  Now, instead of the Law of Moses, the identity markers of God's people would be centered on being a disciple of Jesus. One could write a book on the parallel of these two incidents in Scripture (and there are several out there!), but for now, just consider the weight of Jesus' commissioning of the disciples.  He was creating a new Israel, one that included Israel but now also included "all nations."  Going and making disciples OF JESUS is what defines us as Christians.

Yet in the middle of this amazing experience, (and here is where it gets even more interesting!) Matthew comes right out and tells us that in the midst of worshiping Jesus and hearing this clarion call to action, "some doubted."  Jesus gives the Eleven a clear mission even though some of them still had doubts about this whole "resurrection thing."  Jesus did not wait for all them the get their mind around all the life-changing implications of His resurrection and their inclusion in God's family because of it.  Jesus did not wait for all of them to walk lock-step in agreement on all of the finer points of this new reality.

In the midst of doubt, Jesus still called His followers to go and testify to His resurrection.

I don't know what doubts you might be wrestling with right now.  I know mine, most of which revolve around my own abilities to fulfill Jesus' calling and whether or not Jesus really will "be with me to the end of the age" - or at least what that looks like.  But even in the midst of our doubts, Jesus issues His call: Be a witness to the new reality of living in the shadow of the Resurrection.

This Sunday as you gather to worship, don't be afraid to admit your doubts, but also, don't be afraid to hear Jesus' call to testify to your new identity in Him.  The Great Commission is not limited to those who "get it," it is also for the rest of us who try to worship but also still doubt sometimes.