In the Life of Christ
“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.” — Matthew 28:16–17
There is something deeply comforting about the honesty of Matthew’s account of the Great Commission. Jesus stood before His disciples after the resurrection, bearing the marks of victory over death, and yet Matthew tells us that “some doubted.” The Greek word used here is distazō, meaning to hesitate or waver. These were not unbelievers rejecting Christ outright. These were followers standing in awe, trying to process the reality of the risen Lord before them. I find myself identifying with them more often than I care to admit. There are moments in life when worship and uncertainty stand side by side in the same heart.
What encourages me is that Jesus did not withdraw the mission because some wrestled internally. He still declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Christ did not base the mission on the perfection of the disciples’ faith but on the completeness of His authority. That changes the way I look at discipleship. Too often I wait until I feel spiritually strong before obeying God, yet Jesus sent His followers while they were still learning to trust fully. The Great Commission was not entrusted to flawless people but to surrendered people.
I think about Peter often when reading this passage. This same disciple who once stepped out of the boat toward Jesus only to sink in fear was now being commissioned to help lead the early church. Christ had already spent years teaching His disciples that faith grows while walking with Him. In Matthew 14, Jesus reached for Peter when he cried out in the storm. In Matthew 28, Jesus reaches again, this time sending them into the world with confidence rooted not in themselves but in His abiding presence.
Bible commentator William Barclay observed, “The command of Christ is not to discuss the gospel but to spread it.” That insight challenges me personally. Faith is strengthened not merely through reflection but through obedience. When I encourage someone, speak truth graciously, pray with another believer, or quietly serve in Christ’s name, I am participating in the very mission Jesus entrusted to His disciples on that mountain in Galilee.
Another insightful observation comes from the notes at BibleHub, which explain that the disciples’ doubt did not cancel their worship. That thought stays with me. Mature faith is not pretending we never struggle. Mature faith continues to bow before Christ even while seeking greater understanding. The life of Jesus repeatedly demonstrates patience toward imperfect followers. Thomas doubted, Peter failed, James and John misunderstood, yet Jesus continued shaping them into witnesses of grace.
The final promise of this passage may be the most comforting of all: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus did not merely give a command; He gave His presence. The word “with” carries covenant language throughout Scripture. From Emmanuel, “God with us,” in Matthew 1:23 to this closing promise in Matthew 28:20, the Gospel reminds us that Christ does not abandon His people. He walks with us into difficult conversations, uncertain seasons, ministry opportunities, and quiet moments of obedience.
As I reflect on the life of Christ today, I realize discipleship is not the absence of hesitation but the willingness to keep following Jesus despite it. Faith grows through movement. The disciples went to Galilee because Jesus told them to go. They worshiped, struggled, listened, and then stepped into the mission before them. That same invitation remains before us today.
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