Matthew 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Verse 17 is an extremely peculiar verse. The disciples had obeyed Jesus' call to go to Galilee and meet Him there for a time of extended teaching, so He could explain more about what His life, teaching and ministry meant in the greater context of Biblical and salvation history. At first sight they bowed before Him, but then it says "... but some doubted." When we use that word, we are used to having an object, such as: "they doubted it was really Him" or "they doubted that it would make any difference." We don't have that here. What did they doubt? Jesus' next words are at least a clue: "All authority." Worship is bowing down before the Sovereign One, showing and telling Him that He is Worthy and He is Lord. He has the authority to give us commands, to commission us to His service, and to ask that we live in confidence under His leadership. If we are not willing to do that, our worship is rather shallow. All authority is His, demanding not only momentary, occasional, weekly acts of worship, but lives of faith and obedience to Him.
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