During a devotional reading this week, I reread Matthew 28:16-20. Many of you will be familiar with the passage as the Great Commission. However, I was struck by something I feel as if I have not seen before.  Maybe you haven’t either or maybe you have and just went on to the other verses or maybe you have more insight and can share with me later. Here is what caught may attention in verse 17:

“When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”

Did it get your attention too? “But some doubted.” What does that mean? The eleven disciples were where Jesus told them to be, they worshiped him, and then He gave them what we call the Great Commission; however, right before Jesus gave them the great commission, the text says, “but some doubted.”

What does that mean? Why is it included there? 

1. Could it be a reminder that God knows our true heart and the need to be honest with him? As the father of the child that kept getting thrown in the fire in Mark 9, we need to cry out “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
2. Is it another reminder of God’s faithfulness and steadfastness, even when we are not?
3. Is it another picture of God’s grace, knowing our weakness and desiring to draw us into His Kingdom purposes anyway.

I don’t know, but it gives me hope. I may have doubt, but He is bigger than my doubt. I need not muster up the courage to overcome my fears, but simply lean into Him. He knows anyway. He can cast them all away and He holds all things in His hands. Turning to Him can replace the doubt with true faith that can only come from Him.