Mark 9:19-29 “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.” 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. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “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.” ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 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.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
In the passage today we learn the disciples were dealing with a sick boy. This boy’s sickness was a little different than usual, a little different. This boy was demon possessed. (In the 28 years I have been in the ministry I have dealt with many things, some unusual, some different but I do not believe I ever dealt with demon possession.
Today we deal with a lot of sickness. People spend a lot of time, energy and even money in the attempt to treat these sicknesses. I have to say that I admire the boy’s father. He, as most fathers would be, was desperate to have his son healed so he carried him to Jesus’ disciples (Probably would be similar to bringing someone sick to church in order to receive healing). The disciples prayed, even attempting to cast out this demonic spirit through prayer however,
Jesus own chose disciples, those that followed Him regularly, was unable to help this little boy.
I believe that in our day there are those that are indeed filled with demonic spirits. People think Satan appears as an old ugly horrific monster when he comes at times disguised as an angel of light. It seems like when you turn on the news each night you see how evil people have become here in our world today. How can a mother harm or kill her child? How can anyone molest or mistreat a child? How can a human being take the life of another human being in cold blood? Again, I believe there are people in our society today that are possessed.
God has created man as a temple, a temple and dwelling place for the Holy Spirit, a place for the Holy Spirit to dwell, to abide, a place for the Holy Spirit to take up residence. Christ knows that if the Holy Spirit dwells in this temple that He can control what this man does, what he says and where he goes just as if Satan dwells in this temple then he too will control what he does, what he says and where he goes.
What a disappointment it must have been for the father to bring his child to the disciples and then they are unable to help. Today we advocate getting folks into church, to worship, to seek His guidance as well as having needs met. We always hope that after getting someone into church that they might receive help. The father carried his sick son to the church of Jesus Christ for a healing…..for help.
After being unable to help this child, the father then carried his son to the Savior where he ask Jesus “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”. The first thing Jesus did was scold His disciples calling them an “unbelieving Generation”, attributing their inability to a “lack of faith”, as they were not able to help. However, if you look back in chapter 6 verse 13 you see where the disciples had cast out demons.
The father asked Jesus if you can help will you please do so!! Jesus looked at the father and told him that “all things can be done for one who believes”. The question was not can Jesus help or will He help, it is to the father, do you have the faith? The father in desperation told Jesus that he does believe and in the same sentence he asked Jesus to help him with his unbelief. We are human beings. Our thoughts & our ways are not the Lords. I believe that at times we too battle with unbelief.
Jesus healed many people throughout his ministry looking at them and telling them that their faith made them whole. There is no magic in our hands it is in our faith. The key today? Believe. (I had a friend I pastored years ago that is the in pastoral ministry today and when people would come down to the altar for prayer and others would come down to pray with them he would ask them not to come down unless they believed)
I admire the disciples for going to Jesus afterwards asking Him where they had gone wrong, what had happened that they were unable to help this child. Those churches today that fail should as well ask the Savior where they have gone wrong!! Jesus told the disciples that this particular situation needed prayer and fasting.
The disciples might have taken for granted where their power came from. We too have full access to the same power. We must believe. I want to be useful and effective for God. God wants to work through the church today.
The question IS NOT whether Jesus will help, it is do we have the faith?
