The CROSSroads: Personal Lessons from Mark's Gospel by Rev. Mitch Schultz

Updated
2001-05-26; 14:34:20utc

Lesson Thirty-one: LASTING IMPRESSIONS (Mark 9:14-32)

"I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief" (vs.24)

Some years ago standing in a high school car park in England I was accosted by a group of teenagers who had heard me speak during the morning worship assembly that day. I approached them despite the fact that one of them had just called me a Bible basher. Feeling this was an unfair label to place on me I asked if any of them had ever read the Bible for themselves. None had! Rather than call for fire from heaven to consume them for their disrespect of my Lord (and me), I chose instead to encourage them to defer their opinions on the Christian faith until they had investigated it personally.

It amazes me that many can form impressions of Christianity by what they observe from a distance. Unfortunately those impressions are sometimes formed by what they see in us.

The man who eventually stands before Jesus that day and says "I do believe help me in my unbelief" is a confused man. His most recent impression of Christ has been shaped by the disciples' inability to cast demons out from his son. What should have been a powerful display of God's power turned instead into a disappointing squabble between the disciples, the crowd and the teachers of the law. I can picture the man standing in the middle of the crowd with his head shaking in disbelief and deep disappointment. The argument probably concerned the issue that this Jesus, whom the disciples followed, could do no more than they had just done. Their failure reflected badly on him.

As Jesus approaches the crowd, having just returned from the transfiguration, there was something still of his glorious radiance that lingered. Mark tells us that upon seeing him the crowd rushed toward him and "they were overwhelmed with wonder" (vs.15). When Jesus asks what they are arguing about it is the man who steps forward and explains what has happened (vs.17). The disciples having acted in their own strength, failed to deliver the boy from his oppression. The boy is then brought to Jesus and immediately the presence of divine glory brings those tormenting demons rushing in subjection before that holy presence. Others doubted who Jesus was but it was not hidden from them. "When the spirit saw Jesus it immediately threw the boy into convulsions" (vs.20). Jesus patiently requests of the father some information about the boy. The loving manner in which Jesus asks this of the father must have touched him deeply. The father in response pleads with Jesus as he had previously done to the disciples to heal the boy. The tone of his requests must certainly have made the disciples feel like failures. "But if you can do anything, take pity on us, and help us" (vs.21). The father stands before the one who can do anything. In fact anything is possible for the one who believes.(vs.23)

Here we discover the man's core struggle. He believes in his mind but his hearts is deeply confused, as a result of the disciples' failure. "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief" (vs.24). Jesus sees this expression of honesty as sufficient faith and as only he can do, he heals the boy.

There are many around us like this father who struggle with what Jesus can do for them because of what the church is unable to do. While they believe it in their minds, the greater struggle is one that takes place in the corridor of their heart. You know what that is like. You believe something because the Bible says it is so, but your heart wavers. Impressions of God are often formed by what we see in others and by what others see in us. What should be a powerful display of God's power often turns into a squabble where we try to convince people that God can when it is quite obvious that he hasn't through us. It at moments like this that we need to join this father as he steps away from the crowd and comes, accompanied by his unbelief, face to face with Jesus.

Later Jesus admonishes the disciples for their failure. They failed in one key area. It is often our failure. "This kind can come only by prayer" (vs.29). Jesus does not speak here about the quality or intensity of prayer. He simply tells us that prayer is the only pure and right way to place the issue directly into his hands. We cannot handle some situations in life. Jack Taylor, a Baptist minister, says the devil hates prayer because it throws the battle to God. Prayer works because it calls God to work. When we pray we do nothing else. It is impossible to act in your own strength when you are praying. Try it next time. You'll be happy with the results.

I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day.

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)