And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. — MARK 11:22

The margin of a good King James reference Bible renders today’s text as, “Have the faith of God.” Greek scholars tell us the literal translation
of what Jesus said here is, “Have the God-kind of faith.” Some modern translations also show the verse that way.

Even if you don’t know anything about Greek, you can readily see that this would be a correct translation of this verse, because Jesus had just demonstrated to the disciples that He had that kind of faith: the God-kind of faith, the kind of faith that God used to create the world in the beginning.

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus had spoken to the barren fig tree. He hadn’t prayed. He had simply said to that tree, “. . . No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever . . .” (v. 14).

The next morning, as Jesus and the disciples passed by the same place, they saw that the fig tree had dried up from its roots. Peter, remembering, said, “. . . Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away” (v. 21).

Jesus answered him, “Have the God-kind of faith.” Jesus demonstrated the God-kind of faith for us. Then He told us to have it.

Confession: I see the demonstration of the God-kind of faith by my Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus expects me to know about and to have the God-kind of faith! And I do have it!