Matthew 17:14-27

Matthew 17:14-27

If the voice at Jesus’s baptism was one bookend the voice at the transfiguration was the other end of His public ministry. The transfiguration marked the end of this public ministry and now Jesus is entering into His sacrificial ministry. Jesus is at this point only about a month from the cross. Three events are recorded together and while they seem random, they are a precursor for what is to come.

Jesus comes down from the mountain top experience to confront the demonic. This case is a little unusual. Typically the sick are healed and those with demons are cleansed. But in this case the presence of the demonic manifested itself in an illness like epilepsy. The main point of this description is not the demon or the illness, but rather the faith problem of the disciples. Because of their “little faith” they were not able to effect a healing. These same disciples had in the past both healed the sick and driven out demons but on this occasion their faith was inadequate. “Little faith” is not a reference to the amount of faith but the incompetence of that faith. Even a tiny amount of faith, the size of a mustard seed is enough to move a mountain.

Hard on the heels of this healing Jesus tells the disciples that he is going to Jerusalem and there He will be mistreated, will die and will be raised again. Jesus says this as the disciples are gathering for the trip to the Passover. As they are forming up their traveling party for the pilgrimage to the Holy city Jesus wants no misunderstanding about what is going to happen. Matthew tells us they were deeply grieved. If the disciples had hopes that this trip would be the beginning of the Messianic kingdom they were disappointed at the outset.

In conjunction with these two stories a third one comes in that seems like a rather odd fit. Peter is asked if his teacher pays the temple tax. This tax, like almost every tax, was controversial. It was seen as a patriotic almost nationalistic gesture. Jesus as a rabbi could have claimed an exemption. Jesus uses this occasion to accomplish two teaching points. First, Jesus by His answer to Peter asserts His unique Sonship to God. He also challenges Peter’s faith. The prospect of catching a fish with the exact coin in its mouth is a bit far fetched. Would Peter have the faith to go fishing? In the next month, the disciples are going to need a strong faith as Jesus goes through the Passion. All of these stories are about the challenge of faith.

"Lord, please help me to have a pure faith, small as a mustard seed, that is fully focused on You. AMEN"