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Some Still Doubt
a sermon based on Matthew 28:16-20
by Rev. Randy L Quinn
 
 

Earlier this month I was at a retreat for clergy. The guest speaker at the retreat reminded me of a story I had heard years ago. Some of you may have heard a variation of it before.

He spoke about a famous tightrope walker who amazed the crowds with his ability to walk long distances without losing his balance. He would walk across a large expanse – across waterfalls or canyons or between tall buildings – while crowds gathered to watch. When he returned to his starting point, he would ask if the crowd believed he could go across with a wheelbarrow.

There would be a few skeptics, but most believed he could do it. He would then prove his ability by taking a wheelbarrow with him on another round trip.

When he returned, he would then ask if the crowd believed he could do that with someone sitting in the wheelbarrow. By this time, everyone was convinced he could do it, so there was always an enthusiastic shout of “Yes!”

But when he asked who would like to be the first person to ride, no one was willing to take the risk.

Apparently they didn’t doubt his ability to walk; they doubted their own ability to sit!

According to Matthew’s Gospel, when the women encountered the risen Christ at the tomb Jesus told them to carry a message to the Disciples, “meet me in Galilee” (Mt 28:10). Without flinching, they go on and complete their assignment.

The Disciples gathered as directed and here in our text, we hear THEIR encounter with the risen Christ.

Let’s stand as we hear the Gospel Lesson today:

Read Text, intentionally repeating v 17.

The Disciples gather, and as Jesus appears, Matthew says “some doubted.”

What did they doubt, I wonder?

Were they doubting the word of the women who had told them to gather here?

Were they doubting their own eyes as they see Jesus begin to appear?

Were they doubting that people would believe what they were seeing?

Or is the word “doubt” an inaccurate translation of the Greek? Is this really about something else?

I don’t know Greek, but I did check out the meaning of the sentence in a couple of commentaries. I found two interesting possible ways to translate this other than “some doubted.”

One possibility was that they all doubted, not just some of them. But it could also be taken to mean that some were reluctant to bow down and worship. In other words, they weren’t doubting what they saw or that it was Jesus, rather they were doubting their own ability to give him their allegiance.

They were like the crowd watching the tightrope walker. There was no doubt who this was or what he was capable of. But they were not able to get into the wheelbarrow and trust him.

And I know we still find people who doubt that, today.

They know about Jesus.

They study the Bible.

Some even teach Sunday School.

I suspect some are pastors.

And I have no doubt that some are renowned theologians.

 

They have no doubt about whom Jesus is. They know all the right answers to all the questions people use to determine the sincerity of their faith. They have no doubt that “with God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26).

But they are just as convinced that they cannot make a personal commitment to follow Christ. They know they are too fickle. They simply cannot be certain that they will always do what Jesus would have them do.

In the same sense that the disciples doubted, most faithful Christians doubt. They know themselves too well to say otherwise.

When we ask people to join our church, we talk about committing to three different relationships – one with God, one with the United Methodist Church, and one with this particular congregation. We ask them a series of questions intended to determine their commitment to each of these three relationships.

“Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior,

put your whole trust in his grace,

and promise to serve him as your Lord?”

“As a member of Christ’s universal church,

will you be loyal to the United Methodist Church,

and do all in your power to strengthen its ministries?

“As a member of this congregation,

will you faithfully participate in its ministries

by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?”

There are times when I wish we would ask whether or not we will doubt and ask questions and challenge not only our own faith, but the faith of others as well. There are times when I wish we would ask if we will allow others to question their faith in our presence in a way that allows us to hear God’s answers before offering our own solutions to the dilemmas others may raise.

The truth is that people, faithful people, have had doubts ever since the disciples first heard the call to go into the world to make disciples (Mt 28:19). No one has ever faithfully answered the call without having some doubts. Those who stay home because they have doubts have not understood the purpose of the church nor their particular call to serve.

The eleven remaining disciples did not let their doubts keep them from obeying the call of Christ. They went from the mountain and began to proclaim the good news. Today, there is a temptation to “go to church” each week as if that is what obedience to Christ is about rather than going FROM church to serve our risen savior where true obedience is needed.

Since no one of us can go to every place, we rely upon each other to share in the mission of the church, each doing our part to “make disciples for Jesus Christ.” Our Book of Discipline reminds us that the primary arena for making disciples is in the local church, but that there are other arenas as well.

We are each called to share the good news where we live and where we work. Some of us are called to a particular kind of ministry within the church to equip others for their ministry. Still others are sent by the church to serve in particular ways, as missionaries or teachers or chaplains.

But all of us have received the same commission from Christ to “go.” Go into the world, go make disciples, and go teach by precept and example what it means to live a life committed to God.

Membership is our church’s way of formalizing “the Great Commission” of Jesus, to go into the world and make disciples. It’s our way of recognizing that all of us are called to “get into the wheelbarrow” and practice our faith as we share our faith.

That is not to say that none of us have doubts, but simply to acknowledge that Jesus goes with us and is willing to use us. All of us.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.