Matthew 7:14-20 presents us with a story of a desperate father. A father who has watched his child be tormented over and over. He has watched him be harmed over and over. I imagine that there have been times he has held onto his child desperately trying to protect him. Any parent would be desperate to solve this problem. He first brings him to Jesus’ disciples. They were unable to heal him, so he brings him to Jesus.
Stepping back from this specific situation, we can realize that parents everywhere face desperate situations. A friend of mine has a son with stage 4 cancer in young adulthood. I can’t imagine the shock and the pain they went through as they tackled that problem. Knowing them I do know the first place they went for answers — prayer to their heavenly Father! That should be our answer to the darkest hours and the desperate times we can face, as parents or not. Having the right source of comfort can make all the difference, even when things don’t work out the way we would want. Our faith should be placed in the ability and faithfulness of our God and not in our own ability.
Jesus uses an interesting comparison in this passage with a mustard seed. It’s small; small enough that if one was by itself along your path, you probably wouldn’t even notice it. It does, however, have great potential. It can grow into a tree that you would notice, that could give shade to you and refuge for the birds. It would be significant. Jesus tells them that if they had faith like the grain of a mustard seed, nothing would be impossible for them. Faith that is not placed in themselves, but in God and in His power. We need genuine faith in the one power that changes everything!
From desperation to coming face to face with Jesus…this father found what he was looking for. Jesus healed his son. No more stress of watching to see what happens next. No more holding on tightly to keep him safe. This is the kind of change that Jesus brings to our lives. If we will have faith in Him, trust Him, and follow Him, He will change our lives. We will look back and see such a stark difference that we wonder how we ever lived that way. Follow Jesus, walk in the light, find salvation in Him. That is His invitation.