Shift The If Series

Title: Shift the IF

Theme: Jesus was telling the father that he was putting his “if” in the wrong place. It was not “if Jesus could” it was “If he believed”.

Text: Mark 9:17 - 27

Announce: Garden City Mission

Introduction

In Mark 9, Mark describes to us this “transfiguration” on the mountain. This reminds us of the glory of the Lord that sat in the tabernacle of Solomon or Ezekiel. This glory that Moses experienced on the mountain that made his face glow. There is Peter, James and John experiencing this powerful revelation of Jesus. It was so powerful that Peter (afraid, but not quiet) said, “Let’s stay here and build three tabernacles.” One for Jesus, Elijah and Moses. Equating Elijah and Moses to Jesus was his first mistake. The Father speaks from heaven, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Then things settle.

It was time to go back down from the mountain.

When then get down into the valley, the crowd is there. When Jesus gets down to the bottom of the mountain.

ii. “He found disputing scribes (challenging the disciples to cast out the demon), a distracted father (he wasn’t worried about the theology of the matter, he had a son that was broken and hurting, he just needed help, he was not here to be a pawn), a demon-possessed boy (controlled by a demon, out of control) , and defeated disciples (had done all they knew to do, all they had seen Jesus do, but to no avail)... (Morgan, parentheses is mine)

What did He do?

He silenced the scribes (you just cannot argue with some people), He comforted the father (“bring the boy to me”, He healed the boy, He instructed the disciples.” (Morgan)

Conversation between Jesus and the Man

So let us now zoom in on this conversation between Jesus and this man.

(Mar 9:17) Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit.

Although Jesus was not there when the presentation was first made, in this man’s eyes Jesus’ disciples represented Jesus.

(Mar 9:18) And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."

How terrible this must have been to watch his son being controlled by this demon. How hard it must have been to muster up enough hope to bring his son to the disciple but to see that hope be shattered when the discipled could do nothing.

(Mar 9:19) He answered him and said, "O faithless (unbelieving, without trust) generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."

This is the 1st step. “Bring him to Me”. Father bring your boy to Me. You have to start by bringing your problem to Jesus. Honestly the prayers of church helps, the prayers of the saints avails much, but you have to have enough faith to bring your problem to Jesus.

(Mar 9:20) Then they brought him to Him. And when he (the boy) saw Him (Jesus), immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

The spirit acted out.

(Mar 9:21) So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. (22) And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.

What a description. The Bible says that Satan comes to

John 10:10 “ to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (Jesus answer) I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Listen you can only serve Satan and the ways of this world for so long until it starts to destroy you and your family. I am not talking about addiction or things you see. I talking about not trusting in God. Don’t let the enemy distract you.

Shift the if

But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

If – maybe, hopefully

You – Jesus

Can – ability, Jesus do you have the ability to do this?

Do – action, Jesus will you do this?

Anything – whatever is in your capacity

There was a lot of doubt here. Doubt in Jesus ability. Doubt in Jesus willingness. Doubt in Jesus limitation.

Notice how Jesus “shifts the if”

(Mar 9:23) Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

The man had a “misplaced if”. Jesus moved the “if” from His ability to the faith of a man.

“All things are possible to him who believes.”