The increase of faith.
The things that God does in our lives attract attention. Throughout history, people have longed to see some divine intervention, become evident in someone’s life. All of our faiths increase when we hear that something supernatural happened. An increase of faith is nowadays needed. The disciples of Jesus felt the need for their faith to increase, so they asked him to increase their faith (Lk17:5-6). Supernatural occurrences done by God cause our faith to believe in him more. Jesus tells his disciples that if they have faith as a mustard seed they can tell a sycamore tree to move and it will move. There needs to be a quest for more faith in our lives. Our faith increases with what God does in our lives and others. Luke tells us that we have to imitate the faith of those around us (He13:7). The Psalmist invites us to come and see what God has done (Ps46:8-9), how he causes wars to cease and breaks the spear of the enemy. Elizabeth tells Mary how God has dealt with her by taking away the reproach of men by giving her a son in her old age (Lk1:25). Such a miracle in Elizabeth assured that what Mary had in her was indeed from God.
John 12:9-11
9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
Lazarus’ miracle was no ordinary miracle. He was brought back to life after four days of being dead, confirming the eternal purpose for which we believe. Jesus told Martha that he was the resurrection and the life, that he that believes in him shall not die (Jh11:25). He challenged her with the question of questions “Do you believe this Martha?” Lazarus became the advent sign of the gospel message of resurrection. Paul says that those of us who were baptized into Christ were also to his death and resurrection and should walk in newness (Ro6:4). The Jews came to witness the resurrection miracle. They not only came to see Jesus but the one whom the miracle was performed on. Lazarus became an open book before all. He became at the forefront of an increase of faith and many Jews believed in Christ that day. They saw both the life giver and the life receiver. Just like in the account of the Samaritan woman to whom Christ revealed her utmost deep secrets and caused her people to believe, that they no longer believed because of her (Jh4:42) we need to go back to the source of our faith.
Luke 17:5-6
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Psalms 46:8-9
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
Luke 1:25
“Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.a] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
John 4:42
They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”