Jesus does not leave us to work up this belief on our own, though. He is willing to take us where we are, and help us with our belief. There are two examples in the New Testament where Jesus took half-formed faith and helped the person's faith by teaching the person about faith and by meeting their need.
The first is the example of the leper who comes to Jesus after the Sermon on the Mount. This story is recounted in all of the Synoptic Gospels. Here is the story in Mark:
Mark 1:40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." 41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. (NIV)The man came to Jesus, believing that Jesus could make him clean, but questioning whether Jesus wanted to make him clean. Jesus's response was not to scold the man for his unbelief, but to be filled with compassion for him. He then made a declaration of His will while He reached out and touched the man. He then plainly told the man that He was willing, and commanded the leper to be clean.
The second story is of the man whose son is possessed by a demon. This incident is also found in all three Synoptic Gospels, but the discussion about faith only occurs in Mark chapter 9. Here is the passage:
Mark 9:21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. (NIV)The man believed that Jesus would be willing to help, but he questioned Jesus's ability to heal. Now, to be fair, it appears from the previous verses in this chapter that the man had already asked the disciples to help his son, and they were not able to remove the demon. They were subsequently arguing over the matter (the NAS says "discussing"). The Bible doesn't detail what they were discussing or arguing over, but perhaps the disciples were trying to explain why they couldn't cast out the demon. It's possible that this discussion actually harmed the man's belief that Jesus could heal and so he used the wording "if you can" when he spoke to Jesus.
In this case, Jesus challenges the unbelieving attitude and states that "Everything is possible for him who believes." In response, the father makes that great statement of unbelief and belief that resonates with so many believers. Jesus then casts out the demon through His commanding word.
It seems that Jesus treated this man more harshly in his imperfect faith than he did the leper. I've always thought that the man's "immediate" exclamation was a result of Jesus speaking sharply to him. But this may not have been because of the nature of his unbelief, but because of the circumstances. This incident appears to have been an emotionally charged one, with the disciples arguing with the crowd and Jesus exclaiming in seeming exasperation "O unbelieving generation [...] how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?" This incident comes right after the Transfiguration. Coming down from the mountain, Jesus may have been exultant yet emotionally tired, and He probably found it frustrating that He went from this glorious experience where His glory was plainly revealed to a squabble over why His disciples couldn't cast out a demon. So, His sharp challenge of the man's faith before healing may have been due more to the emotional nature of the incident than because his faith was worse than the lepers.
In both circumstances, despite imperfect faith, those who came to Jesus first had their unbelief corrected and then they received what they were looking for. God is gracious with us when we have trouble believing.
