The eleven go to Galilee, “to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them” (Matthew 28:16).

Jewish scriptural tradition knows mountains to be places of revelation, places of encounter with God. The risen Jesus meets his disciples on this unnamed mountain, but as Robert H. Smith points out, the text is remarkably reserved in its lack of a physical description of Jesus. There is no portrayal of radiant glory or awesome power. The narrative focus is on the words of Jesus.1 The disciples apparently recognize Jesus and understand more clearly than before his identity as Son of God, as they worship him. Yet the author adds, “but some doubted” (Matthew 28:17).

Doubt is not the opposite of faith in Matthew, but an inevitable part of the life of faith and discipleship. When Peter walks on water, for example, he becomes frightened when he notices the strong wind and begins to sink. After saving him from drowning, Jesus says to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (14:31) Peter’s doubt does not prevent Jesus from saving him, nor does it preclude Peter ...