Mark 9:14-27 – HOW TO SUPPORT SOMEONE WITH A LIFE THREATENING ILLNESS
He was having a biopsy on a lump. The doctor was concerned and rightly so. It turned out to be bowel cancer, a devastating discovery and as we walked into my office he asked me for my support in prayer. Of course I prayed, then and most days since, through the biopsies and tests and surgery and soon the Chemotherapy. Many others join us in prayer. He is part of our tribe.
I have been reading an excellent blog recently called Beautiful Life With Cancer. Have you experienced a life-threatening illness? I would be interested to find out what it was that helped you the most?
HOW DO YOU SUPPORT SOMEONE WITH A LIFE THREATENING ILLNESS?
I wonder what it would be like for the Father in Mark 9:14 who was trying to find answers for his son. His son had a life-threatening illness.
Mark 9:14 (NLT) says “When they (Jesus, Peter, James and John) returned to the other disciples (from the mountain), they saw a large crowd surrounding them,” Perhaps the crowd had been gathered by the 9 disciples who did not go up the mountain with Jesus.
14 some teachers of religious law were ARGUING with them.
What Jesus found when He came down the mountain was an ARGUMENT. We don’t know what the argument was about but we do know that it wasn’t helping anybody find healing that morning. In the middle of the argument was a little boy who desperately needed healing physically, emotionally and spiritually.
The negativity of the scribes almost sabotaged the future of this little boy. He needed people to be PRESENT, but he needed POSITIVE PRESENCE to give him hope. What support can we give to someone with a life threatening illness?
BE PRESENT AND BE POSITIVE
15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet Him. Most people want to get away from NEGATIVE people and this crowd was no exception. They ran to Jesus and away from the Scribes. Would you want people like the Scribes, or someone like Jesus, to speak into your life when you are sick? I would want Jesus.
16 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked. In effect Jesus is saying – This isn’t a time for argument. It’s time for COMPASSION. Negativity won’t heal this little boy.
17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk.” This young man couldn’t talk. His Dad brought me to Jesus and WAS HIS VOICE when he had none. He verbalised his deepest prayer on his son’s behalf.
One lady I spoke to recently is so sick she finds it hard to pray. What can we do to support someone with a life-threatening illness?
BE THEIR VOICE BEFORE GOD.
They may not be able to pray but we can pray for them.
The father described the spiritual oppression taking place in his son’s life 18 … whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. This young man was sick physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Bible says that he had a DEMON plaguing his life. His spiritual illness led him to have physical illness.
If it hadn’t been for his DAD, he would not have found the healing he so desperately needed. The father of the boy said, “So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
What I love about this father is that when the Scribes couldn’t help, this father didn’t give up. When the disciples couldn’t help, this father didn’t give up. Now he comes to Jesus.
19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?” I don’t think Jesus was talking to the disciples or the Dad when He said “You faithless people”. I imagine He was looking at the Scribes. Their NEGATIVITY had created an ATMOSPHERE OF UNBELIEF that had limited the ability of the disciples to heal this boy. Negativity certainly isn’t one of the spiritual gifts. It definitely doesn’t provide the atmosphere for a miracle to take place.
Jesus says “Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought the boy. A great choice to make. What can we do to support a person with a life threatening illness.
INTRODUCE THEM TO CHRIST.
Jesus took the boy away from the Scribes and their negativity.
20 But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. The evil spirit felt comfortable in the negativity of the Scribes and in the middle of an argument, but very uncomfortable in the presence of Jesus and the mustard seed faith of the Father. Sin and evil are always exposed in the presence of Jesus, but so is forgiveness and healing. Invite people to reach out to Christ.
21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. The Dad describes to Jesus what has been HAPPENING IN THE PAST. This spirit was making this little boy suicidal.
But Jesus shows us that we don’t have to be RULED BY OUR PAST. He gave this little boy a POSITIVE FUTURE.
The Dad said “Have mercy on us and help us…” Notice this illness had affected the father too. He said have mercy on US. Family members often need support too. He identified with his son. We can do this too. How can you do that?
PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES.
Have empathy rather than sympathy. Bring all the family to Jesus in prayer,
22 …Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
What Jesus is saying is that YOUR OUTLOOK IS DETERMINED BY WHAT YOU’RE ARE LOOKING OUT FROM (Brian Houston). Is your perspective one of unbelief or faith? We can help in this way too.
ENCOURAGE THEM TO RESPOND IN FAITH
Jesus was NOT AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT FAITH. Jesus changed the atmosphere when He spoke personally to this Dad about faith in Him. It was as if He wanted the Dad to CO-OPERATE with Him to get his son healed.
Instantly the Dad cried out, 24 “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” He admitted he had only a speck of faith and needed help with the rest. We always need to LIFT OUR EXPERIENCE TO THE LEVEL OF OUR BELIEF, rather than bring our faith down to the level of our experience (Brian Houston).
All we need is MUSTARD SEED FAITH in a HUGE God. It’s an active PARTICIPATION with God to grow and be involved in His purposes for our lives.
God is more concerned with the SPIRITUAL sickness of our lives than even physical sicknesses because He wants us to have eternal life. PHYSICAL HEALING IS TEMPORAL. SPIRITUAL HEALING IS ETERNAL.
25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing,
He rebuked the evil spirit. He didn’t rebuke the FATHER for his lack of faith. He gave him hope.
He didn’t rebuke the BOY for allowing a demon into his life. He healed him. He got to the heart of the matter and rebuked the demon and cast it out. When He dealt with the spiritual matter then the little boy was healed physically and emotionally.
25 “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” He said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” 26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.”
They PRESUMED THE WORST INSTEAD OF EXPECTING THE BEST.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. Luke 9:42 (NLT) adds Then He gave him back to his father.
From that moment on he was well. What a great outcome.
BUT YOU MIGHT BE ASKING “WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE NOT HEALED?”
I cannot pretend to know what God is doing when someone is not healed. All I know is that when I pray and support and show compassion in Jesus name I can leave things in God’s hands. I trust Him to know what He’s doing.
I do know one thing. Jesus is interested in HEALING US SPIRITUALLY. That’s the ETERNAL solution. A relationship with Christ. He invites us into relationship with Him.
It would have been wonderful for that young boy when Jesus reached down and took hold of him and he opened his eyes. Jesus face was the first person he saw after he was cured. That would be life-changing.
Pastor Ross
