And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith” ….So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can…..… *
That short discourse between Jesus and the apostles seems puzzling. These men had been traveling with Jesus and they had seen miracle after miracle. They believed Jesus. Yet, they asked Him to increase their faith. Does that imply there may be different levels of faith?
If so, then, how much is enough?
To search for that answer, let’s start where Jesus answered the apostles by telling them: “if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”* And, in Matthew, Jesus tells the apostles: “ if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.” **
Jesus wasn’t suggesting that the apostles actually move a mountain, or throw a tree into the sea.
“moving mountains” was a term to describe overcoming seemingly impossible difficulties.
Jesus was teaching how to be an over-comer.….over-comers who have faith as a mustard seed.
What is faith as a mustard seed ? A mustard seed is about an eighth of the size of a grain of rice (about 1/20 of an inch). As the plant grows, its leaves grow to a foot or more wide. As time passes, it becomes a strong tree. Jesus is pointing to the word “faith,” as He teaches what it takes to be an over-comer when seemingly impossible difficulties rise as large as a mountain before us.
The book of Hebrews helps us understand more fully as it defines “Faith” as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ….. Jesus, then, is asking us to stand in faith even if our faith is the size of a mustard seed. …… Stand believing in God’s promises….for He tells us in Isaiah: Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen You, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.****
How much faith is enough?.…Faith merely needs to exist and persist