In Matthew 21:21, Jesus spoke of the kind of faith we all should have, a faith that can move mountains. He said that, if we have faith and do not doubt, we can speak to a mountain and tell it to get up and throw itself into the sea and it will be done. There are three events in the gospels that perfectly illustrate what this kind of faith looks like in action and what that faith can accomplish.
The first event occurred as Jesus was preaching to a crowd that had gathered in a home that probably belonged to Peter. Four men who had heard that Jesus was there brought a friend who was paralyzed to Peter’s house. They knew that Jesus was there and they believed that He could heal their friend. Not being able to get into the house, they went up on the roof, removed part of that roof, and lowered their friend down into the room. When Jesus saw the faith of these men, He told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven and then healed him (Mark 2:1-12).
The second event occurred as Jesus made His way into Capernaum. A Roman centurion in that town had a servant at home who was paralyzed and suffering greatly. The centurion appealed to Jesus for help but, when Jesus said He would go to the centurion’s home to heal the servant, the centurion said that he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his home. He believed that all Jesus needed to do was give the word and the servant would be healed. Jesus marveled at the faith of the centurion, which was greater than that of Jesus’ own people. Jesus then spoke the word and the servant was healed (Matthew 8:5-13).
The third event occurred as Jesus made His way to the home of a ruler whose daughter had died. As Jesus walked with His disciples and the ruler, a woman who had been suffering from a discharge of blood for twelve years made her way through the crowds of people and touched the hem of His robe. Her faith was so strong that she had complete confidence that all she needed to do was touch Jesus’ robe to be healed from her affliction. And, when she put that faith into action and touched His robe, she was healed immediately. Jesus then told the woman that her faith had made her well (Matthew 9:18-22).
The faith demonstrated by these people is the kind of faith we should all strive for. When we have this kind of faith and we put our faith into action, God will move in our lives. This is the kind of faith we need when we are seeking healing, freedom from addictions, or deliverance from trials and tribulation. It is the kind of faith that pushes aside all doubt. It is a faith than can move mountains.
A Worshiper's Journal 