Mark 9:21-24

Passage

Jesus asks the father how long the boy has been convulsing.  The father replies that it has happened since he was a child.  The father also confesses that the evil spirit has tried to throw the boy into fire to kill the boy.  Then the father asks Jesus to do something if He can.  Jesus rebukes the man and tells him that all things are possible to the one who believes.  The man immediately sees his error and repents.  He claims belief, and then asks Jesus to help his unbelief.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus queries the man.  He wants to know a little more information.  What we find out is that this boy has had this issue his whole life.  Nothing has been able to be done for this boy.  Whether it is because the father hasn’t tried or because nobody was capable of doing anything, we don’t know.  But the reality is that this boy has struggled in this condition his whole life only to be present at this moment with the very one person who can absolutely help him.

Why is Jesus fundamentally at the heart of every healing?  Why must this be so?  Having read this part of the story up until now, why do you think nothing could be done by the father or the disciples to help this boy?

Second Thought:

 We have a very interesting confession.  The evil spirit has tried to throw the boy into a fire to kill the boy.  One might ask why it is that an evil spirit would try and kill someone over whom they have possession.  Here’s the reason – and it goes back to our willingness to submit to God and see Him even in the dark places of life.  As I said a few days ago, because of this boy’s condition the boy, the father, the disciples, and the gathered crowd will get to see a display of God’s power.  So why would the evil spirit want to do harm to the boy?  The evil spirit knows that such an act is the only way to prevent God from being able to use this boy and his condition.  Ultimately harmful acts – especially self-imposed harmful acts – are merely evil desires designed to prevent God from being able to demonstrate His glory through a person.

Have you ever thought about evil in this way?  Why would it make sense that evil would try and destroy those things through which God intends to reveal Himself?

Third Thought:

We have an incredible moment of growth here in this story.  The man comes to Jesus, hoping Jesus can do something.  Jesus rebukes the man, telling him that God can do anything.  It is not God’s power that is limited; rather, it is our belief that is limited.  The man immediately recognizes that this is true within him.  He confesses it and immediately asks Jesus for help.  This is repentance at its finest.

Do you think it is interesting how quickly repentance happens in this story?  Why do you think it happens so quickly?  What is the catalyst for this man’s repentance?  Who is ultimately responsible for bringing this man to repentance?  Of what does the man repent?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 9:25-29