Today’s reading was Mark 9:14-29
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
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 one 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 impure 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. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
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A few things I love about this story:
1) The people, when they saw Jesus, were overwhelmed with wonder. I think that will be my reaction when I get to heaven, and physically see Jesus, but I worry that sometimes, in the busyness of the everyday, I lose my sense of wonder about the person of Jesus. These people’s reaction is a challenge. For me, when I read Bible stories with which I am very familiar, I have to pray and ask God to show me afresh what he has in there for me, and help me not assume that I have already mined this passage for all its worth. This requires humility, and sometimes a commentary J
2) Jesus seems pretty exasperated by the failure of the disciples to drive out the evil spirit:
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
On one level, he seems to find their unbelief hard to tolerate, though later he uses this as a teaching opportunity and acknowledges that this was a tricky one, with extra preparatory prayer required. Two challenges here for me: Do I have confidence in Jesus to put people’s lives right, if only I can bring them in contact with him? Am I prepared through prayer for God to effect that change through me?
3) Jesus is cool (like Fonzie). The boy is thrashing around on the floor, and Jesus calmly asks the father, like a diagnosing physician, “How long has he been like this?” Excuse me? The patient is in the middle of a fit, and you’re taking a medical history? Jesus is not thrown off by drama. He remains calm, and he is Lord in every sense. He knows he can take care of this. He knows not to panic. May I have the same peace when I am experiencing drama around me.
4) The challenge to faith. The man asks Jesus for help, but is tentative about it:
But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
The man’s experience of both believing and doubting at the same time is common to many of us, and I’m glad it’s recorded in Scripture. And though Jesus offers a gentle rebuke, he still fulfils the man’s request and heals his Son. I find this encouraging that Jesus will respond even to a mix of faith/doubt, and that although we should aim to grow in faith and see doubt diminish, doubt itself is not a disqualifier. How great to find this “average” disciple with whom we can relate, as well as the great warriors of faith in the Bible.
Lord I believe. Help me in my unbelief.