Mark 9: 23-24 NKJV
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Belief is an interesting word. Another word for belief is faith. The scripture suggests that anything can be achieved if we only believed. That is a great promise, but raises the question, “belief or faith in what?”
The scripture tells the story of a man whose son would be routinely possessed by an evil spirit. This spirit would render him mute, violently throw him to the ground, make him foam at the mouth, gnash his teeth, and become rigid. It was much worse than modern day epilepsy because it was demonic. The father took his son to Jesus’ disciples, but they could not help him. Some other religious leaders were arguing with them when Jesus walked up.
Jesus asked what all the commotion was about, and the father told Jesus what his son was experiencing and the disciple’s inability to heal him. Jesus spoke to all who were present, including His disciples, and calls them all a faithless generation. How long, He asks, did they think He would be with them, and how long before their faith is able to do greater works than He? He may have been thinking about what He said in the gospel of John 14:12, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.”
The miracles Jesus performed were mind-blowing, but He was not going to be with them forever. He challenged his listeners, and He challenges us to cultivate our faith so that we become the miracle workers. The father in the story had a limited faith in himself. He thought he would find help for his son. He had a limited faith in people. He thought that the disciples could heal his son. He had limited faith in God; he thought his son could be healed by Jesus. He had a limited faith, but he recognized his limitations. He asked Jesus to help his unbelief. The man came with a debilitated son and left permanently transformed, and his son miraculously healed.
This story is not about healing, it is about faith. The father’s faith was challenged. The disciple’s faith was challenged. The faith of the people who witnessed the miraculous healing was challenged. Our faith is challenged. “If you can believe, all things are possible.” Even a limited faith can move mountains. The father asked for help for his unbelief. He believed God for the healing of his son.
Where is your faith, and what are you believing God for?
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church and is the spiritual leader of the Evangelical Church of God, both in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company/J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096) and is the producer and host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on Facebook Live. Be sure to ‘Friend’ the Matters of Faith YouTube Channel. Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.
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