Faith comes from understanding

Bible Reading - Mark 9:2-29

“I need to see it before I can believe it.” This is a common statement that many make when they are asked to trust in a person, idea or concept. Their experience determines their faith.

Sounds like a fool proof way to make sure that we don’t just blindly believe in something? Perhaps. But our senses are limited. We may misinterpret the signals we are receiving. Places like the Trick Eye Museum use the fact that our brains can “deceive” us to see things that aren’t real to create optical illusion paintings and installations.

Led by Jesus up a high mountain, Peter, James and John probably thought that their eyes were playing tricks on them too. They witnessed Jesus, dazzling white in His glory, talking to Elijah and Moses, prophets who supposedly lived and died ages ago in Israel. No wonder the disciples were afraid and at a loss for what to say and do (v3-6). Then a thundering voice from a cloud commanded them to do what Jesus said and suddenly, they were alone with Jesus again (v7-8). Nothing made sense!

Jim Elliot was an American missionary. His love for Christ and people motivated him to bring the Gospel to the Huaorani tribe in Ecuador. Tragically, he and his teammates were killed by the very people they wanted to reach out to.

Jim Elliot remains an inspiration to Christians today. He once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” His words echoed one great paradox of the Christian faith – whoever is willing to lose his or her life for Jesus and for the Gospel will find it (v35). To Jim Elliot, giving his life for Christ and the Gospel was the best thing he could ever do. He might have lost his physical life, but he gained the eternal life that Christ has promised to those who follow Him wholeheartedly.

Doubts could have emerged: “What just happened? What does Jesus mean when he says that he will rise from the dead (v9-10)?”

The confusion continued. Back at the bottom of the mountain, a desperate father was seeking help to heal his possessed child (v17-18). Jesus’ disciples could not drive the spirit out because they lacked faith (v19). They failed to rely on God to do His ministry (v28-29). Though they should have experienced Jesus’ miracles by now, they still could not understand the nature of His work.

Today, this is a struggle that many believers have – just like how the disciples recognised that Jesus is special, we may say that Jesus is the Son of God. Yet we do not understand what it really means. Faced with uncertain life circumstances, our faith wavers as we try to make sense of God’s ways. As a result, we are not able to trust Him fully in various areas of life.

We can take heart that our struggles of faith are not out of the norm; the disciples too had their moments. They learnt from their mistakes, but held onto Jesus, following Him. Eventually they became the apostles of the early church. Faith is more than what we say or feel about Jesus. Faith is based on knowing who Jesus is and choosing to live in a way that honours Him as God. In other words, faith is a decision based on understanding.

Let’s be honest with God about our lack of faith, if that’s our condition today. Ask God to help us overcome our unbelief by guiding us to not just experience, but understand who Jesus is.

As you spend time on the couch with God, take a moment to pray and reflect on what you've read.