"Your faith has made you well."

I've been thinking about the kind of service I've been doing around here, and also the kind of work I'd like to do in the future. And one thing that's bothered me a bit is that a lot of my work for others has felt like maintenance. Helping others bear their daily burden of work, caring for their needs, but without much progress or growth in the areas that seem most important to me.

And this reminded me that Jesus' way of helping others required a lot of them. It required them to meet him in faith. He wasn't just offering handouts, but calling people to take a step in faith (a step of spiritual growth) to receive what God had to give them. And when people would not do this, they could not receive his help. Like when Jesus went to his home town, for example:

He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. (Mk 6.1-6)

And there were many other instances where Jesus explicitly connects the faith of the person with the help they receive from him (from God). Such as these, all from Matthew 9:

And Jesus asked the father, "How long has he had this?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "If you can! All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mk 9.21-24)

And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. (Mt 9.20-22)

And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then Jesus touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. (Mt 9.27-30)

And I especially like the story of Peter coming to Jesus on the sea. It too connects Peter's faith with the help and support he gets from Jesus:

And Peter answered Jesus, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come."

So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Mt 14.28-31)

When Peter steps out of the boat in faith, he can walk on water; when he turns his eyes to the waves and doubts, he sinks; and then when looks back to Jesus in desperation and cries out for help, he is saved. And he has learned something very important.


How can I help others in this same way? I think this is an important part of Jesus' service, not offering help that is merely a commodity to be consumed, but helping others reach out in faith for the help God has to give. That's not just physical maintenance. That's calling forth what is deepest and most important in people.