Mark 9:22-24
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!”
Tag: Belief, Even in Unbelief
In the above story a father has brought his son to Jesus' disciples because he is being tormented by a demon of some sort. Jesus was away on the mountain with Peter, James and John. The remaining disciples were inept at casting the evil spirt out of the boy. When Jesus arrives the man pleads with Jesus to complete the task. Imagine his frustration. He was with the other nine disciples. These were not the more notable three (Peter, James and John). These nine didn't have the power, and, according to the man, he didn't have the faith. Jesus makes the statement that anything is possible for the "one who believes." Imagine the incriminating reference of that statement. apparently the nine disciples were not able to cast out the demon because of their lack of belief. These are followers of Christ. Yet, they lacked the faith, as did the father, to believe that God could heal the boy. Jesus let's them all know that this issue was not the result of an impotent God, but a deficit in faith. The father is not afraid to admit that. It is not recorded that the nine would admit it, however. The father confesses his unbelief and simply ask for the faith necessary to heal his son. This is a vital request for a father to make. Jesus grants his request for more faith. Jesus will later tell the nine that these type of things (demonic activity) can only be confronted with much prayer. He doesn't say if the more prayer is to attack the demon, or for their own lack of faith, or both. God can and will heal and do miracles - but some of those miracles require more faith and more spiritual work, than do others. We must realize that God will heal but our faith and our spiritual work of faith are responsible, as much as God's intervention. God chooses to use prayer. He chooses to use us. Where we don't believe we can ask God for more belief. So, the work we do is through the belief He supplies. We might be the conduit, but God is the source of the power and the result of the power.
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