Do You Believe What Jesus Believed?

#5

Perhaps I should have started this series with this question. A kind and honest inquiry was brought to me, “did Jesus have faith? Was He a believer?”

Was Jesus A Believer?

On one level, it can be said that He believed what He said was the truth. In that use of the term Jesus was a believer.

The question goes to the humanity of Jesus. All inquiries must take into account that He was both God and man. His dual nature is affirmed in Scripture (notably in John 1:1-14, in particular verse 14; likewise Heb. 2:14-18).

Now look further into that reference in Hebrews. And note how these words are attributed to Him: “I will put my trust in Him,” (Heb. 2:13). Jesus put His trust in God, believing every word of His plan. Later in Hebrews, Jesus is called “the founder and perfecter of our faith,” (Heb. 12:2).

The robust trust Jesus had in the Father is part of the whole example of living given for our imitation. And here is another Hebrews reference that implies that Jesus had faith: “…without faith it is impossible to please” God (Heb. 11:6). If Jesus pleased God (no question that He did), the activity of that way of life was founded on trust in the Father. Therefore I will answer in the affirmative. If faith is trust or dependence on God and taking Him at His word, thus producing obedience, Jesus had faith.

I’ll continue to ask us: Do we believe what Jesus believed? Watch for the next installment in this series.