WATCHWORD:
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[b] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20
Meditation:
The Great Commission
Capernaum lies on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is surrounded by hills, often referred to in the scripture as mountains. It was on one of these mountainsides, just north of the city, where Jesus often brought his followers to share the Word of God and to pray.
It had been three days since the crucifixion when the two Mary’s approached the tomb, now no longer sealed. Matthew 28: 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there. Remember what I have told you.”
The question of where the disciples would meet Jesus was never an issue. They knew where they had always met, on the hillside, just north of Capernaum. It was there, that in all the region of Galilee, where they had met many times, that He would meet them. So, “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him—but some of them doubted!”
Wait a minute. “Some of them doubted?” Who doubted? Who could not believe their eyes? Some had been there on Calvary, and now there He was, alive! And, they doubted? What did they doubt?
Now we get into translation, complication. The Greek word translated as ‘doubt‘, has many meanings. That same word could mean waver, hesitate, indecision. It may be that ‘hesitate’ might be a better translation because those gathered on that hill were confronted with a shocking event, a miracle, something hard for their minds to process.
Not all disciples were gathered on that hill, the majority of them would not be all together until they returned to Jerusalem. And then, of course, there is the case of Thomas, whose doubt is understandable, maybe his skepticism cemented the reality that Jesus had risen from the dead, and was, indeed, the Son of God.
What does it take for us to have no doubt? What does it take for us to truly believe that the entire Bible is the Word of God? No doubts! What does it take for us to truly trust in Him with our whole life, knowing, without a doubt, that we are heirs to the King?
What if we had been on that hillside looking down on the town of Capernaum and across the Sea of Galilee, waiting, just waiting. And then, as the other disciples gathered, suddenly there was Jesus, alive! What if we had been on Calvary, had seen Him die, and we came to Capernaum because we wanted to believe, and to see for ourselves that He was aliv? We wanted to believe what the women said, that is why we are here. Would we have doubted? Would we have hesitated to believe? Would we have wavered?
This, of course, is the story of A Life for Barabbas. He needed to know. We, of course, rest on the Resurrection, we know that Jesus returns to the full company of disciples, identifies their doubt, and comforts them, telling them to “Have no doubt.”
And, so, it began, the birth of God’s greatest grace, prelude to the Great Commission that charges us to go and, not just tell the story, but to live it. Amen.
Bulletin Board:
My apologies to all of you. Yesterday I hit two tech stores trying to fix my little problem, and it was quite late when all was returned to what serves as ‘normal’ in my household.
As I close this Watchword, there’s a song playing in my mind, that you know quite well. Here, let me pass it on to you:
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer
A Morning Prayer we should say together:
God, thank You for Your immense patience with me, a sinner. Guide me, Lord, along the path of Your Will. To You be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen
