How Did Jesus Show Faith?
Jesus, often presented as the object of our faith, also perfectly exemplified faith in His own life. He demonstrated profound trust in God the Father through His actions, prayers, and obedience. Jesus’s faith wasn’t passive; it was an active, living commitment to the divine will and plan, even when faced with immense suffering and temptation. He showed faith by consistently relying on His Father, acknowledging His dependence, and believing in the ultimate triumph of God’s promises. This wasn’t a faith born from ignorance but a deliberate choice to trust in the One who sent Him. His unwavering reliance on the Father is a fundamental example for all believers.
The Foundation of Jesus’s Faith
Dependence on the Father
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently displays his dependence on God the Father. He speaks often about the Father’s will and seeks guidance through prayer. The phrase, “My Father,” is frequently on His lips, showcasing the close, intimate relationship that fueled His faith. This filial connection was the bedrock of His earthly ministry, influencing His decisions and actions. His baptism, for example, was a public declaration of His commitment to the Father’s plan. After this significant event, Jesus retreated to the desert to solidify his understanding of His divine mission and Sonship, demonstrating an intentional pursuit of spiritual alignment.
Prayer as a Demonstration of Faith
Jesus’s life was permeated with prayer. Before significant events, like choosing the twelve disciples, Jesus would withdraw to pray, showcasing his reliance on the Father’s wisdom and direction. In the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the agonizing reality of the cross, Jesus’s prayer, “not my will, but yours be done,” is perhaps the ultimate testament to His unwavering faith and surrender to the Father’s will. This wasn’t a passive resignation, but an active embrace of God’s plan, even when it meant immense suffering. These moments underscore that prayer for Jesus was not a ritual, but a crucial dialogue with the Father, a means of seeking strength and guidance.
Obedience as an Act of Faith
Jesus’s entire life was an act of obedience to the Father. From His humble birth to His sacrificial death, every step was taken in accordance with God’s purpose. His willingness to embrace the cross, despite knowing the excruciating pain ahead, demonstrates unparalleled faith in the Father’s overarching plan of salvation. In Hebrews 10:37–38, it is noted that “no one believed God’s promises and lived his or her life in light of those promises like Jesus did.” This is evident throughout his ministry; he healed the sick, he raised the dead, he taught the people the way to salvation – all because of his unshakable belief in the Father’s mission for him.
Living the Word of God
Jesus also demonstrated faith through his deep understanding and lived application of God’s Word. He quoted scriptures constantly, often to counter the arguments of the Pharisees or to teach his followers, demonstrating both his knowledge of scripture and his belief in its truth. He did not just read the word, but He lived it.
How Jesus’s Faith Empowers Us
Example for Believers
Jesus’s faith serves as the ultimate example for all believers. He shows us that faith is not just intellectual assent, but a whole-life commitment to trusting in God. By witnessing His reliance on the Father, we learn the importance of prayer, obedience, and seeking God’s will in every aspect of our lives. His life shows that faith is not just about believing, but about living in accordance with that belief.
A Source of Strength
Jesus’s demonstrated faith provides a profound source of strength for believers. When we face challenges and doubts, we can look to Jesus’s example, remembering his perfect reliance on the Father and his willingness to persevere through suffering. Knowing that even Jesus relied on faith can encourage us to rely on God’s grace and promises in times of need.
The Author and Perfecter of Faith
The book of Hebrews also refers to Jesus as the “author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2). This highlights His crucial role in initiating and completing the work of faith in us. It also emphasizes that he was the perfect example of faith. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has paved the way for us to have a relationship with God and have faith in Him.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How does Jesus give us faith?
Faith, as Romans 10:17 states, “comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” This “word,” ultimately from God, is “breathed out” by God through the Holy Spirit. Jesus, therefore, is the conduit through which God’s word, and thus faith, comes to us.
2. Where in the Bible does Jesus explicitly show faith?
Hebrews 2:13 directly connects faith (trust) to Christ, attributing to Him these words: “I will put my trust in him.” This emphasizes Jesus’s active choice to depend on the Father.
3. What did Jesus teach us about faith?
Jesus taught that faith saves, that trust in Him gives hope and a new relationship with God. He emphasized belief and trust as the gateway to eternal life, rather than works alone.
4. How does the Bible define faith?
Faith is biblically defined as an unwavering trust in God. It is a present trust, rooted in God’s demonstrated reliability throughout scripture, culminating in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
5. What is ‘real faith’ according to the Bible?
Real faith, according to the Bible, is not just an intellectual agreement but an active, trusting, and obedient response to God’s revelation. It is a faith that produces action and change.
6. What are the four types of faith described in the Bible?
The Bible describes four types of faith: Dead Faith (faith without works), Demonic Faith (belief without transformation), Vain Faith (empty and fruitless belief), and Saving Faith (genuine trust in Christ that leads to salvation and good works).
7. Can you give some examples of faith in the Bible?
Examples include faith demonstrated in desperate situations, the willingness to choose faith at great personal risk, and when there is undeniable miraculous response by God.
8. What were the three basic teachings of Jesus?
Jesus taught about faith, kindness, and God’s ability to make great things from our most humble offerings, often demonstrated through His miracles.
9. How is faith demonstrated in Jesus and in the life of the believer?
Faith is demonstrated by accepting Christ’s Atonement and teachings, trusting in Him, and obeying His commandments.
10. What are the three sources of faith in the Catholic tradition?
The three sources of faith are Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church), all considered equal in importance.
11. Did Jesus pray for our faith?
Yes, Jesus prayed for Peter’s faith, saying: “Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail” (Luke 22:31–32). This demonstrates His concern for the faith of believers.
12. How does Jesus strengthen our faith?
Jesus strengthens our faith through prayer, study of the scriptures, and through guidance from the Holy Spirit. He provides the ways to connect with God and know truth.
13. How do we live by faith in Jesus?
Living by faith involves having a quiet confidence that God is good, that He is working all things for good, and it requires daily trust in Him.
14. Is faith in Jesus a gift?
Yes, according to Ephesians 2:8-9, faith is a supernatural gift of God, not earned through works but given through grace.
15. What does faith in Jesus look like in practice?
Faith in Jesus involves acknowledging the truth of God’s word, trusting in Him, and resting on Him alone for salvation. It manifests in a life of obedience, service, and love.