Mark 9:14-27 (see also Matthew 17:14-18, Luke 9:37-42)
This conversation took place shortly after Jesus’ transfiguration. As He descended the mountain with Peter, James and John they saw below them a great crowd of people standing around aimlessly, while the nine disciples they had left behind were involved in an animated debate with some teachers of the law. When Jesus asked what was going on, He was answered by a man in the crowd who explained that he had brought his demon-possessed son for healing. In Jesus’ absence His disciples had prayed for the boy but they had not been successful in casting the demon out.
Jesus’ first response was to express His frustration at the inability of that generation to understand the things of God. In spite of all He had done for Israel throughout their history and in spite of all that Jesus had done in the midst of them, they still doubted His power and love. Even His disciples were still full of unbelief. The spiritual blindness of the people was so great that they found it almost impossible to believe for anything they could not see with their natural eyes. Nevertheless, Jesus had compassion for this man and his son and drew them away from the crowd to minister to them.
As the child was brought over to Jesus he started to convulse. Falling to the ground he had a full-blown epileptic fit, foaming at the mouth, becoming rigid and grinding his teeth. When Jesus asked the father how long this had been happening it became clear that it had been a problem for years. His son, who was both deaf and dumb, was battered and bruised and had often been thrown into fire or water by the uncontrollable body movements that he experienced. The father was in no doubt that, if Jesus did not heal him, the demon would destroy him.
One can only imagine the hopelessness this poor man felt. His son had suffered so much and while his love and vigilance had preserved the boy’s life, he felt helpless to deal with the problem. Jesus was his only hope of bringing change into this awful situation and, after the disciples’ failure, even that seemed unlikely. And so we see his desperate plea: “If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (v.22). The father’s words show that he doubted whether Jesus could heal his son. But Jesus turned his words around; what was in doubt was not His ability but the father’s faith.
Jesus’ words caused the father to see things differently. He recognised that the power of God in Jesus was more than sufficient to meet his need but that he himself lacked faith. Because of his past experience and what was happening in that moment he had put limits on the power of God. Having addressed Jesus initially as “Teacher” (v.17), he now acknowledged Him as Lord and cast himself on His mercy (v.24). He knew that he needed help to position himself for a miracle. His weak and wobbly expression of faith was sufficient for Jesus who turned His attention to the boy and cast out the demon before presenting him to his father, totally healed.
It may be that you want God to do something for you right now. Whatever it is you can be sure that He is well able to do what you ask. You may have a disease that the doctors say is “terminal”. You may have debts that seem impossibly large, or family problems that seem insurmountable. You may have walked through years of suffering and turmoil that have ground you down and made you feel exhausted and hopeless. I encourage you today to take your eyes off all those things and focus instead on the goodness and greatness of our God. As you meditate on who He is and what He does, your perspective will change and your faith will grow. Tell Him what you need and ask His help to receive your miracle.
Mark 10:27 “But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.’”
Prayer
Lord God,
I praise You! You are almighty, powerful, able and willing to do anything that lines up with Your will and desire to bring healing and wholeness to this world. Please forgive the unbelief in my heart that comes from my focus on the things that I can perceive and understand with my natural senses. Help me to increase my perception of spiritual things by keeping my eyes fixed on You. I want to grow in faith that I might partner with You in seeing Your power manifested on the earth, in my life and the lives of those around me.
Amen.
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