Season of Doubt

 This is the week after Easter.  The week of doubting. 

 On that first day of the week, the day we celebrate as Easter, Jesus appeared early to the women at the tomb.  That same day, he also appeared to two sojourners on their way to Emmaus, a village about 7 miles distant from Jerusalem. The women and those who saw him at Emmaus returned and  reported what they saw to the disciples who were in hiding. 

According to Mark’s account. Mary Magdalene was the first to report to his disciples. “When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.  After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either,” (Mark 16:11-13).

That evening, Jesus appeared to his disciples, ten of them, at least.  According to John, Thomas was not there. They told Thomas about what they had seen. But Thomas would not accept it. He said, “ ‘Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’ “(John 20:25).   For a full week Thomas continued in his doubt and his refusal until the following Sunday when Jesus appeared to them again with Thomas present.  He fell on his knees and said, “ ‘“My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.’ ”(John 20:28-29). 

 Later, when Jesus met with them in Galilee and issued his great commission, Matthew states, “When they saw Him, they worshipped him, but some were doubtful,” (Matthew 28:17).

 I am glad the Scripture included these references.  I am glad that God is greater than our doubts.  We don’t have to have all the answers.  All of our knowledge is partial. None is perfect. None is complete.  But, we can believe.  Often, we are like the father who cried to Jesus, “I believe, help my unbelief.”

 Sometimes we doubt because we are disillusioned or disappointed by those in whom we placed our trust.  People will fail us. Sometimes we doubt because life doesn’t turn out the way we expected.  Sometimes we doubt because the innocent suffer and die.  A loved one dies, and we struggle with grief and loss. Sometimes we doubt because of the violence and war that continues unabated.

 And yet, there is something deep within that speaks to us. A voice that will not be silent, even though it may be nothing more than a whisper.  For me, it is the voice of the Savior speaking to Jairus after his servant has told him that his daughter is dead.  “Stop fearing, only believe.”  There is someone greater, someone higher, there is something better and beyond our best imagination.  We were given a glimpse when Jesus was raised from the dead.