A Sky Diver's Faith

This week in core we read Matthew 13-16. It starts out tell a lot of parables about the kingdom of heaven. Most of which I think I understand, but I probably haven't begun to understand the full meaning. The next few chapters tell many stories about faith and the heart.

We talked in core about each of the faith stories; the first being where Jesus and for a time, Peter, walk on water. (The Message and NIV)

Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror.

But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid."

Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."

He said, "Come ahead."

Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

One question stood out to me: "why did you doubt?"

I think Peter lacked faith not in Jesus' ability to walk on water, but instead in his own ability to walk on water. Deeper than that, it showed a lack of faith that Jesus/God would give him the ability to do it. We saw this same lack of faith at first when Moses was called, until finally God consented to let Aaron go with him. Today, we sometimes show this same lack of faith in ourselves. When God calls us into action we make excuses like Moses did and try to wiggle our way out of it. Instead, we need follow Moses' latter example and actually go, do what God sent him to do. What are some ways y'all decide to stop making excuses and listen to God? How have those turned out for you in the past?

Later on in Matthew, we read about the Pharisee's demand for a sign. (The Message and NIV)

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven, pressing him to prove himself to them. He told them, "You have a saying that goes, 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.' You find it easy enough to forecast the weather—why can't you read the signs of the times? An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you'll get is the Jonah sign." Then he turned on his heel and walked away.

It says they came to test him by asking him to show them a sign. My first thoughts are, "how is this testing him?" Our core talked about similar this was to the temptation in the desert. Satan asked Jesus to display his powers. Turning stones to bread. Jumping off the temple so angels would catch him. In the same way, the Pharisees asked for a simple sign. Why? Surely they didn't know about the temptation in the desert, nor did they think they were actually tempting God. I think they wanted a way out of needing faith. Had Jesus taken their offer and showed them a sign, perhaps they would have believed in him. What would it require on their part? Faith? No, if they saw him do something that only God could do, then no faith would be needed. Just as we don't require much faith in gravity, we just know that it works.

Major Tangent
This reminds me of a section in The Jesus I Never Knew. When Jesus raised himself from the grave- (I've never put it like that before.) When Jesus raised himself from the grave and showed himself to those who knew he was dead, he removed the need for faith. He was physically there, they could touch him, put their fingers in the holes in his hands. Those that were eyewitnesses of him, needed only to remember the fact that he was once dead, but alive again. History tells us that these eyewitnesses, these apostles, did amazing things. They brought down the Roman empire, they turned the world upside down.

This also leads me to ask, "why did he leave? why not just stay around and show himself to everyone, then we can all be eyewitnesses and do amazing things?"

God did miraculous things in Egypt when He "convinced" Pharoah to let the Israelites go. He instituted the Passover, so that they would remember, much in the same way communion reminds us about what Jesus did for us, leading to our own exodus. The result? Most of the Israelites forgot. Eventually the grew up the nations of Assyria and Babylon to destroy Israel. So, at least with Israel, this method didn't worked (Leaving out the whole return-from-the-exile thing).

Wouldn't have been easier if Jesus had been with us for the past 2000 years, here on earth as the physical king of his physical kingdom? It'd be a great place. Imagine our schooling system, our government, our economy. He'd make even Solomon look foolish.

I have my ideas why he left, but I'd like to hear what y'all think.

Back on Topic
So, the Pharisees wanted proof that Jesus was God. Why didn't he give it to them? Why did he instead require faith? I think faith shows our willingness to admit that we don't know everything, and that God has a plan. It's hard to half-butt faith. If you don't have faith, you know it.

Standing on the edge of an airplane ready to jump, you know whether or not you believe that the parachute will work. If you don't have faith, you won't jump. You might fool others around you, that you are thinking about it, or that you'll jump after they do. But you know. Our faith in God
needs to be enough to jump. Not just jump once. Our goal should be to jump at every chance we get, without hesitation. Thats kind of faith that God loves. The kind that He jumps up and points at and exclaims, "That's what I'm talking about!"

When God tells us, "Hey, I need you to do something for me. Get up, I'll explain along the way," He wants us to have faith and jump.