Adoration and Doubt

When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. — Matthew 28:17.

Matthew 28:17 presents a poignant paradox: overwhelming awe and profound skepticism coexisting in the same moment. The disciples, eyewitnesses to a life-altering event, react with a spectrum of emotions ranging from worshipful adoration to bewildering doubt. This verse encapsulates the complexity of human response to the extraordinary.

 The disciples’ disbelief is understandable given the context. The crucifixion, a public spectacle of brutality, shattered their world. To then encounter Jesus, alive and transformed, was mind-boggling. Their doubt was not a denial of faith but a natural response to the incomprehensible. It highlights the human condition: we yearn for certainty, yet reality often presents us with ambiguities.

 Doubt is a testament to our capacity for critical thinking and our search for meaning. Yet, it can also be a formidable obstacle to faith. The tension between doubt and belief is a complex interplay, often characterized by a desire for both certainty and spiritual growth.

 In both legal and spiritual realms, we are called to examine evidence carefully and form judgments based on reason. However, unlike the legal system, faith is not solely reliant on empirical evidence. It often involves a leap of faith, a trust in something beyond our understanding.

While doubt may be a natural part of the human experience, it is a dynamic process that involves wrestling with questions, seeking answers, and ultimately trusting in a higher power. One thing is certain, God’s grace is sufficient to overcome even the most persistent doubts.

About the author

Webb Hubbell is the former Associate Attorney General of The United States. His novels, When Men Betray, Ginger Snaps, A Game of Inches, The Eighteenth Green, and The East End are published by Beaufort Books and are available online or at your local bookstore. When Men Betray won one of the IndieFab awards for best novel in 2014. Ginger Snaps and The Eighteenth Green won the IPPY Awards Gold Medal for best suspense/thriller. His latest, “Light of Day” will be on the bookstands soon.

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