Mark 9:14-24

When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” And He answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”^[1]

A man had brought his son to Jesus to be delivered of a demon that had possessed him and in Jesus’ absence he asks the disciples for their help but they could not provide it. Jesus rebukes the disciples’ lack of faith, not their lack of ability, and commands the boy to be brought to him. Watching the spirit in the boy react to being in his presence, Jesus asks how long he has been afflicted in this manner. In the process of answering, the man asks Jesus for His help if he is able. Jesus indignantly rebukes the lack of faith in this father, to which the man repents and seeks help for the defect of his faith.

The part of this text that is so striking to me is the faith of the man that is lacking. He asks what seems to be a simple, natural and even understandable question. Heal, deliver, set free my son if you can. It is a question we would ask a doctor if we were to take our sick child to him or her. In such an instance it is an appropriate question, but here it is evidence of a lack of faith. This father realizes the error he has made and so asks Jesus for help. He essentially says, “My faith is deficient. It is weak and it needs to be strong to give You glory.” “Till up that which is lacking in it.” In so doing this man highlights a need that all believers have. It is not in this man’s power to believe, nor does he have the strength to overcome his unbelief. He needs the help of the Lord. Like Him, we need the Lord’s help to believe and to overcome our unbelief.

Gracious Lord, as much as we hate to admit it, we are like this man. We believe but our faith is defective. We have no where else to go, and no one else to whom we can go. You have the Words of eternal life. There is healing and everything else we need in Your hands. Give us the capacity today to overcome our unbelief. Let us be like this man who realizing the error he has made repents and asks for help. Till up that which is lacking in us today so we may give You glory, honor and praise. We ask this is Jesus’ name. Amen.

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mk 9:14–24.