David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Minor details

Matthew 21:18-22

In the morning, as he was returning to the city, Jesus became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

20When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Giant Redwoods
These giant redwood trees are in the Muir Woods National Monument north of San Francisco, California. Though massively tall (200 feet or more), their scale is not easily discernable in this photo.

The details of this brief event trouble me. Causing a fig tree to wither in response to finding no fruit on it is oddly like an object lesson or parable. Telling his disciples that with faith they can move mountains is surely much easier understood as hyperbole than taken at face value. Opening a blank checkbook to anyone who prays in faith is beyond the experience of many if not most Christians. All this is so troubling because I don’t have faith; I am far too much like Jesus’ disciples, I am of little faith (cf. Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:18 and others!).

Jesus has perfect faith. He sees things that are not as though they are (Hebrews 11). He is perfectly in tune with the Father. His focus is not clouded by sinful or selfish motives. His love for God and man is pure. So his faith serves God’s purposes and reveals God’s glory.

Although I am troubled by the details of Jesus’ encounter with faith, fig tree and marveling disciples, I am thankful for it. For once in a while I am able to lift the veil of unbelief and see the reality of God’s power, and his delight in those who believe in him. The alternative is to deny God’s power and to believe in ourselves – poor alternative indeed. So while I am of little faith, I am thankful to lay hold of the tiniest bit of Jesus’ word and promises. Some days, I find more faith than others. And I give thanks to God for that gift!

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