Help My Unbelief!

 

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:14-29 ESV).

 

Jesus had just been encouraged by God on a mountaintop, and three of his disciples—Peter, James, and John—had been allowed to watch. The disciples saw the power and glory of God in Jesus as never before. They saw Jesus’ clothing become dazzling white. They saw Moses and Elijah, prophets of Israel from ancient times, talking with Jesus. They heard words from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7). The impact of all this was overwhelming.

 

But when they came down the mountain, the disciples faced a problem. A troubled father had brought his demon-possessed son for healing, but the disciples who had stayed behind were powerless. The evil spirit made the boy unable to hear or speak, and it threw him to the ground gnashing his teeth. The father was desperate. The disciples couldn’t help, but could Jesus?

 

“Bring the boy to me,” said Jesus, and he commanded the spirit to leave and never return. The spirit shrieked, shook the boy violently, and came out. Jesus lifted the boy to his feet, and the boy stood up. “Why couldn’t we do that?” the disciples later asked. Then Jesus taught them a great lesson about prayer, which calls for faith in the power of God. Power doesn’t reside in the person praying or in the act of praying itself. Power comes from God through faith in Jesus!