down from the mountain-top

Last Tuesday we discussed the encounter Jesus had with the desperate father and his demonized son after coming down from the Mountain of Transfiguration. Here are a few of the things we talked about:

There may be an inference here to when Moses came down from the mountain the first time and the people were worshiping a golden calf... great disappointment, disbelief, trust misplaced.

Comparing this account with Mark’s account –

> In both, Jesus addresses all the people, including his disciples with a cry of exasperation and frustration – they are an unbelieving generation. Matthew adds "perverse" to the description of this generation, likely a reference to Moses' speech in Deuteronomy 32:5. This "little faith" seems to be such a big deal to Jesus. "How long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?" In another place Jesus says, "nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes will he find faith on the earth?"(Lk 18:8)

> In Mark, Jesus engages the boy’s father with regard to faith, and he responds “I believe, help my unbelief.” In Mark, the issue with the disciples as to why they couldn't do it was that it required prayer. Here in Matthew he tells his disciples it was specifically because of their little faith.

In this "narrative" section (ch. 14-17) the failures of the disciples is emphasized -

(14:16f, 26f, 28f; 15:16, 23, 33; 16:5, 22; 17:4, 10f).

Jesus had given them authority to cast out demons (10:1,8). I don’t think Matthew ever records them doing so, whereas Mark and Luke do (Mk 6:13, Lk 9:6; 10:17).

We talked again about faith – just what is it??

Hebrews 11:6 - without it we can't please God

Ephesians 2:8 - it is a gift

It is trust. It is reliance. It does include a content or intellectual or doctrinal side (ie. sincerity does not equal faith - believe all you want in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus, but...).

There’s a kind of prayer / ministry that trusts in prayer or the ministry (ie. the formula), and not really in God.

One of the group members shared a story of misplaced trust in Bible reading and prayer, which was revealed and healed when a spiritual director encouraged her to go a month without reading the Bible or praying...

Perhaps this section in Matthew reflects a time in the early church when miracles weren't happening as frequently or dramatically as previously. Perhaps it was a time when "failure" was something they were talking and praying about. This is honest, gritty, life as a disciple. Doesn't always go the way we hope and pray and read about. But though Jesus cries out in exasperation, "How long am I to be with you?" he does affirm them at the end of the story, "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (28:20)

Thank you, Lord.

“We who read these accounts should be growing in our faith relationship with Jesus as Jesus expected of his first disciples. How often do needs around us go unmet because we neglect radical trust in God, especially on behalf of others?” (Matthew, Keener, p. 281)