If You Can!
Reflective Reading: Mark 9
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the one about the father in Mark chapter 9 who cried out, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” In this powerful narrative, we find a desperate father and a very troubled, tortured son. The boy often tries to kill himself by either drowning or jumping into a fire. His dad will do anything to help this nightmare come to an end. However, before we take a deep dive into the story, let’s take a look at the people, places, and events surrounding this unusual story.
Turn back with me in your mind to about 2000 years ago. Jesus has just come down from the mountain where he was transfigured into a glorious light. Peter, James, and John were witnesses to the whole event. As they climb down the mountain, the men hear the sound of an intense, arguing crowd. They discover a bizarre scene; a multitude of people have surrounded Jesus’ disciples. Within the mix, a group of Jewish leaders are arguing about whether or not the disciples have the power to cast out demons. Right in the center of everything, a young, demon-possessed boy lies writhing upon the ground.
Immediately, Jesus steps onto the scene, “Oh faithless generation,” he cries out, “how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him unto me.”
The crowd brings the boy to Jesus, and immediately the boy falls to the ground wallowing and foaming at the mouth. Jesus turns to the father and asks, “How long has this been happening to him?”
Wait, hold on! Stop the presses! Am I missing something? The boy is on the ground being viciously attacked by a demon, and Jesus is asking how long this has been going on? Can you imagine being the boy’s father? You come, simply asking for help, and all you get is a question of timing?! This sounds more like the questions you’d receive at a hospital emergency room. You’re “dying,” and they want to know your date of birth!
The father answers, “This has been happening since he was a child.” You can almost hear the desperation in his voice as he goes on to say, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us!” Now we’re getting somewhere. With such a heartfelt plea, there’s no question in my mind about what Jesus will do next! Yet my expectations are dashed to pieces. Rather than healing the child, He says, “If you can!”
In light of all the arguing, questions, and confusion, Jesus is making the father think—“If you can!” He could have snapped his fingers or spoken a word to heal the boy, but no! Jesus is making an important point: it is not about what He can do. Obviously, Jesus can do anything. The question then is, what can the father do?
With an honest answer to this question, Jesus responds, “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.” Or, in other words, “If you can believe, I can do anything!” The father gets it! I can hear him saying: “For God to help my family, I need Him to first help me!” We hear his tear-stained response—“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” This is what Jesus was waiting for. Yes, He could have healed the son immediately, but that would not have changed the father’s lack of faith. That would not have changed the family dynamic. Now, both father and son have been made whole.
Even more than that, their story was to be a powerful example to the crowd, to the Jewish leaders, and to the disciples. Jesus, once again, saw an obstacle as an opportunity to address the heart, for man to see what he truly needed—faith to believe that God can do anything if we can believe. Friends, if you don’t know what to do to help your family, or yourself, one proven way is to pray this prayer, “Lord, I believe! Please help my unbelief!”
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
Recommended Reading:
Little Miss Moth (Ages 6+)
Phil Tyler’s Stand (Ages 9+)
Titus: A Comrade of the Cross book/audio (Ages 12+)
