learning faith

 Matthew 17:20 

"He said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain move from here to there; and it will move, and nothing is impossible for you.'" 

This mountain Jesus is talking about is the same mountain that they (Jesus, James, John, and Peter) just descended from. They all just witnessed Moses and Elijah appearing and talking with Jesus. Jesus has just revealed more of himself, a fuller glimpse of His Father's glory to them, and what's the first thing they do, they doubt! 

"Little faith". 

Jesus is implying that they doubt. They doubt the one who is, who was and who is yet to come. They do not have the confidence in the sure faithfulness of God. The disciples just descended the mountain with Jesus, witnessing two of their greatest prophets and leaders from the Old Testament come and commune with Jesus. They felt entitled to full accessibility and power that they had just witnessed and they attempted to cast out this boy's demons. They were unable to because they misplaced their faith, their confidence. This confidence does not come from our own mere flesh, blood, and power. This confidence is one that is only tangible and accessible through Jesus. By truly believing who He is, not merely because of his signs and wonders but because of the very embodiment of His attributes.

"Like a mustard seed". 

When planting a seed, it needs soil, water, and sun to grow. This faith that Jesus gives a picture of to his disciples is one of complete and utter dependence on Jesus. To have faith is to believe in His life, death, and resurrection. Hebrews 11: 1 defines faith as, "Faith is the certainty of things hoped for and the assurance of things not seen." Because of Jesus, who is our forever and only Lord and Savior; it is by His word, His character, and His assurance given through his death and resurrection, that eternal life is accessible to us. We can live in faith, in fact, we are called to, "Live by faith, and walk by sight." in 2 Corinthians 5:7. As you grow in your walk and relationship with Christ, continuing to daily die to yourself, take up your cross and follow Him, your faith grows. Salvation comes by Him, through Him, and for Him. This confidence comes by believing and completely relying on the faithfulness of God. He truly is all we need for all we face. Rest in the assurance of who He says He is.