But some doubted

Most of us have said, "I doubt it."

We heard something that seemed like it was fake and that could have been our response.

Some of us are easily persuaded; others are not when it comes to believing.

Would you believe it and not be afraid if an angel appeared to you? Luke 2:9; 24:1-5

Would you believe it if someone you knew was dead, suddenly showed up alive?

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Matthew 27:50-53

"Why are you seeking the living One among the dead? He [Jesus] is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise from the dead." Luke 24:5-7

And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. Luke 24:8-9

"I doubt it."

But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe the women. Nevertheless, Peter got up and ran to the tomb; and when he stooped and looked in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened. Luke 24:11-12

Now when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were together due to fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, "Peace be to you." And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. John 20:19-20

Did they say, "We doubt it"?

The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. John 20:20

Would we have believed our eyes or thought that it was some trick and doubted?

Are you now a doubting Thomas or Tina?

But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus [Twin], was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!"

But he said to them, "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 20:24-25

People refer to Thomas as "doubting Thomas" but Jesus said that he was not in doubt but disbelief, which is a worse, spiritual state, isn't it?

"I do believe; help my unbelief!" a father said to the Lord. Mark 9:24

What did Thomas get for his doubts and disbelief?

Jesus said to him, "Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer." John 20:27

Jesus appeared initially to His disciples at least three times after He rose from the dead. Luke 24:13-27; John 20:16-20, 26-28; 21:1, 9-14

Jesus ate fish and honeycomb in front of them. Luke 24:41-43

Later, Jesus served them freshly baked bread and fish. John 21:12-14

He was dead but now He was alive forever. Revelation 1:17-18

Jesus told Thomas, "You believe because you see Me. Those who believe without seeing Me will be truly blessed." John 20:29

Peter wrote, You have not seen Christ, but still you love Him. You cannot see him now, but you believe in Him. So you are filled with a joy that cannot be explained, a joy full of glory. And you are receiving the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9

We may never walk on water as Peter did toward Jesus. Matthew 14:28-29

Peter had faith but then doubted.

But seeing the wind, he [Peter] became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:30-31

We may still have cares of this life Mark 4:18-19 and are anxious about basic needs, even if not all the time. Matthew 6:31

We of little faith (with our doubts) will still be provided for by our Heavenly Father according to Jesus. Luke 12:22-31

Why not believe Him?

Have you ever believed that you believed the Lord for something Matthew 21:22 and didn't think you had doubts, Mark 11:22-24 but you did NOT receive what you requested?

I believed that I had faith.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15

I didn't believe that I wasn't in faith, Luke 9:41 nor that I asked wrongly to consume it upon my own lusts. James 4:3

Think of the privilege the original followers of the Lord Jesus Christ had.

For 12 of them, Jesus chose them to be with Him, except when He sent them out to minister. Mark 3:13-19

Maybe they were together almost continuously because at one time, the Bible says that they didn't have leisure to eat because of the crowds following Jesus. Mark 6:31

Jesus visited Peter's home and healed his mother-in-law Matthew 8:14-15 so maybe they did go to their own homes at times. Luke 5:27-29

These original disciples were with the Lord for a time period of at least 3 Passovers, John 2:13; 6:4; 13:1 which would have been 3 years, from the time of John's baptism to the Savior's ascension to heaven. Acts 1:9-10, 21-22

After His resurrection, Jesus taught them for 40 days before He ascended to heaven. Acts 1:1-3, 9-10

But Matthew penned this regarding doubt -

Then the eleven disciples [Judas Iscariot, one of the original 12, John 6:71 had killed himself Matthew 27:3-5; Acts 1:16-19] went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Matthew 28:16-17

Are you kidding me?

Jesus is standing there with them in His glorified body Luke 24:39; Philippians 3:20-21 that they had earlier handled and seen, Luke 24:36-40 and yet "some doubted."

We might assume that those who doubted did NOT worship Him as the others did. Matthew 28:17

These were His chosen disciples Whom He named apostles Luke 6:13 and sent them out to heal and cast out evil spirits. Matthew 10:1-2; Luke 9:1-2

Jesus told them, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." John 15:16

Maybe some doubted because they were foolish and slow to believe all that the prophets and Moses had written about the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 24:25-27

Jesus said to some religious leaders that if they didn't believe what Moses wrote, how would they believe His words? John 5:45-47

Jesus said that a certain rich man died Luke 16:19, 22 and talked with Abraham. Luke 16:23-30

Abraham said, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rises from the dead." Luke 16:31

Perhaps the Bible is more important that some think so that we can have faith.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Suggestion:

Read some Scriptures when you eat natural food.

Spiritual people don't live by this only, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4

Your thoughts?

R. Jason