But Some Doubted….

Matthew 28 (New International Version)

The Resurrection

¹After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

²There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  

³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  

⁴The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  

⁶He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

⁸So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  

⁹Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.  

¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

¹¹While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.  

¹²When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,  

¹³telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.'  

¹⁴If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 

¹⁵So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.  

¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 

¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 

¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  

²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

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But Some Doubted….

Our experience tells us that people do not return from the grave. At the heart of our desolation when death strikes is the awful certainty that in this life we will not see our loved ones again. We attend funerals to honor their memory and grieve our loss, but we do not expect to be greeted at the door by the person who has died.

In light of this, it should not seem surprising that Jesus’ disciples were reluctant to believe that He had risen from the dead. Following the testimony of the women who had seen and angel, and empty tomb, and Jesus Himself (Matt. 28:1-10), “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted” (Matt. 28:16,17).

Among those who were closest to the Lord and had heard His remarkable teaching and witnessed His powerful miracles, some doubted that Jesus was actually alive again. But the honest doubts of the disciples soon turned to joy and hope as they embraced the reality of their risen Lord.

What do we doubt about Jesus today? Does our experience tell us that our past mistakes, present struggles, or future prospect can’t be changed? With fresh memories of Easter, let’s trust that Jesus Christ can do all things. He has the power to say to you today, right now, no matter where you are:

“Don’t cry, because I am your peace;

Don’t be afraid, because I’m with you wherever you go; Is your soul hungry? come to me because I am the bread of life (john 6:51); 

If you are in darkness ground and being tormented by the devil, come to me because I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. (John 6:12); 

Are you still trying to find the way or the door to heaven? ONCE  and for all listen to Me: I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved…,I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 6:9: 14:6); 

Are you afraid of death? I had defeated the enemy and the death, so come to Me because I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.(John 11:25); 

Are you worried about your past? I can change your past, because I AM the same yesterday, today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8);  

- I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Revelation 22:13)”

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Where Jesus reigns there is no fear,

No restless doubt, no hopeless tear,

No raging sea, nor tempest dread,

But quietness and calm instead.

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Just one look to Calvary 

can dispel your doubts.