From Matthew 9:27-31 – Two Blind Men / Some believed because they saw His works. These, as blind, could only hear of His works. And yet, for them, that was enough. They believed having only heard. And so according to even that faith, a very slight, but still relying faith – they were healed. Note that v. 27 says they were following Him. They could only hear, and yet they followed.

Oh that just hearing would always be enough for me.

When Thomas finally confessed Jesus as his Lord and God, Jesus said to him – Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

It is not great faith that is needed. It is faith in a great Christ that is needed.

Now note here again how it is faith works. Jesus says “according to your faith be it done to you.” Now if they had faith (the way we tend to think of it) then why weren’t they healed before Jesus touched them? It is because faith is not an independent power we can wield.

As we’ve already noted several times before, what faith does is bring us to Christ – to trust Him. It doesn’t operate on its own as some sort of cosmic force we can use at will.

Their faith brought them to seek out Christ to meet their need. This is what faith always does – it insists on finding Christ. And in finding Him, we will find the fullness of what we need. Faith, as faith, didn’t heal them. Jesus did. Faith, as faith, won’t save us. Jesus must. Faith leads us to put our trust in Him. Faith believes Him – who and what He is and what He can do. And He responds.

Note too how it is that a cry for mercy is a cry that denotes no sense of deserving or right. It looks to the benefactor to act only according to their own largess. And it is this recognition for mercy which is so essential to our right understanding of salvation. Jesus owes us nothing. We deserve only wrath. But recognizing He has both the power and the prerogative to show mercy, we appeal to Him only on that basis. And He is ever faithful to respond in kind.

What a great Savior He is!