Jesus: a Model of Faith
The Demand for a Sign (Matthew 12:38-42)
Jesus is asked by the Pharisees to give a sign. Jesus replies, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet." Jesus continues to say that just as Jonah was in the whale's belly for three days, he will be in the heart of the earth for three days. Jesus says that "at the judgement, the men of Ninevah will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here."
In this section in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is trying to tell future generations of people about faith and believing in him. Jesus uses the Pharisees' question as a way to show their lack of faith. He ends up saying that those people with the strongest faith are those that don't need signs to believe in him. In the last part of this section, Jesus says that those who don't believe in him, like the Ninevites, will be punished during judgement day. Here Jesus ultimately teaches us that faith is about believing in something without needing a sign to back it up with.
The Cursing of the Fig Tree (Matthew 21:18-22)
In this passage, Jesus is traveling back to the city when he sees a fig tree and stops to see if it has any fruit on it. When Jesus sees that the tree isn't bearing fruit, he curses it saying, "May no fruit ever come from you again." The disciples are in awe at this and Jesus' response is that if they have faith they can whither trees and move mountains. He says, "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive."
Through this story, Jesus is trying to teach us that faith is very powerful. Jesus does something unbelievable; he kills a tree using words. He attributes this event to faith. Jesus says that faith is so powerful it could move mountains. Jesus also preaches that anyone with faith will receive what they pray for. To Jesus, faith shows an acknowledgement of him. When people recognize Jesus as the son of God and believe in him, he will do anything to protect us and show his love for us.
The Faithful or the Unfaithful Servant (Matthew 24:45-51)
Here Jesus tells a story about a master who leaves and puts a servant in charge of his house and food. Jesus says that "blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so." Jesus continues to say that the servant who abuses his master's wealth and food and drinks with the drunkards will be punished by the master and he will go to the place of "hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth."
From this passage Jesus is trying to teach us what the results of our steadfast faith will be. Jesus is trying to say that if we do what God asks of us and believ in his second coming, then we will be able to live alongside of him and be happy. Jesus also tells us that if we don't have faith and live carelessly, then we will be sent to hell and punished for our actions. The main point of this passage is to show how living your life as if God was watching and as if Jesus will return at any time will get you to heaven.
