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Daily Devotions

John

John 
Day 
Day 208

Difficulties in having full faith

Text: John 14:12-30

DIFFICULTIES IN HAVING FULL FAITH

There were many reasons why Jesus sought to prepare His Disciples for the suffering that He would be undergoing in a short while’s time. He was concerned about their faith.

Jesus knew how the multitudes struggled with having faith in Him. Despite all that they had heard and seen, they still could not come to full faith. John’s plaintive cry over this state of affairs was well captured in this text.

“But although He had done so many signs before them,
they did not believe in Him.”
John 12:37

DEEP CONCERN FOR THE FAITH OF THE DISCIPLES

Jesus was concerned about the faith that His Disciples had. He knew that they had genuine faith. However, their faith was rather limited, to say the least. He desired them to have a deep and strong faith. He knew that the way towards that goal was to be found in acquiring deep knowledge. Thus He set aside time to teach them deep truths, which if the Disciples knew how to apply would result in a much stronger faith than the one they possessed.

Why had He set aside time, to teach them deep truths on the threshold of the last moments of His life on earth? Jesus explained,

“And now I have told you before it comes,
that when it does come to pass, you may believe.”
John 14:29

Jesus knew that the Disciples could not accelerate the growth and development of their faith through concentrated and intense instruction. Yes, Jesus taught many deep and profound truths to His Disciples. However, many of these truths were already things He had taught and emphasized on earlier occasions. His present concern seemed to be more geared towards reinforcing their knowledge and trust in Him. Even if they couldn’t come to full understanding or full faith, at least they would have the means to deepen their faith after the death of Jesus, after all that He had foretold had been fulfilled.

LESSONS CONCERNING THE GROWTH OF FAITH

Jesus had been seeking to teach His Disciples many lessons on how they could increase their faith. Let’s take time to review some of these lessons.

1. Initial Faith

We may speak of the Disciples having “initial faith”. The faith that the Disciples had was indeed genuine. However, their faith in Jesus was rather limited. Jesus spoke to Nathanael when he first came to faith in Him.

“Because I said to you,
‘I saw you under the fig tree’, do you believe?
You will see greater things than these.”
John 1:50

Initial faith is valid and genuine! However, having initial faith is not enough, if a person desires to serve the Lord effectively and significantly.

2. A Growing Faith Through Experience

As the Disciples followed Jesus as He ministered to people, they were deeply impacted by what He taught and did. Their faith in the Lord seemed to increase significantly, as they reflected on the miracles that they saw Him performed.

When Jesus turned water into wine, John made this observation.

“This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee,
and manifested His glory; and His Disciples believed in Him.”
John 2:11

3. A Growing Faith Through Teaching

There was no question that the faith of the Disciples increased significantly, even as their knowledge of Jesus expanded. There was a direct relationship between faith and the Word that Jesus taught.

Jesus made numerous remarks concerning His death. His statements were not always understood. Nevertheless, the knowledge that Jesus planted in the hearts and mind of His Disciples were not in vain. John reflected this understanding in the following text.

“Therefore, when He had risen from the dead,
His Disciples remembered that He had said this to them;
and they believed the Scripture
and the word which Jesus had said.”
John 2:22

4. A Growing Faith Through Testing

Jesus would test His Disciples from time to time. On one occasion Jesus wanted to feed His Disciples, and He said to Philip,

“‘Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?’
But this He said to test him, for He Himself
knew what He would do.”
John 6:5-6

5. A Growing Faith Through Holding Fast To The Word Taught

This point also involved knowledge. However, more than knowledge would be required. The Disciples would have to hold fast to all that Jesus had taught them, no matter how torn they might be in their emotions. They had already come a long way from their initial faith in Him. They must now hold fast to all that they had been taught. If they did that successfully, amidst severe trials, their faith would become even stronger.