Mark 9:17-27 relates the poignant story of a man whose son has been suffering with a horrible malady that has racked his body and soul since he was a child. The man has enough faith to approach Christ's disciples to ask for help. He hopes they hold the power to heal his son; however, they are not spiritually prepared to answer such a daunting request (see Mark 9:28-29). He then continues his efforts on behalf of his son by approaching the Savior. The pleading of this man, the way he describes his child's suffering, and what happens next melts my mother heart as I think of times when I have sought the Savior's blessings on behalf of my own children in the midst of their sufferings.
17 And one of the multitude answered
and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he
teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away:
and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O
faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer
you? bring him unto me.
20 And they brought him unto him:
and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on
the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked his father, How long is
it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into
the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing,
have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to
him that believeth
24 And straightway the father of the
child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came
running together, he rebuked the foul spirit saying
unto him, Thou dumb
and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him
sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He
is dead.
Tears came to my eyes today as I read this heart-wrenching account of a humble parent desperately seeking a miracle from a source that he hoped had the power to give it. He believed enough to ask, and that belief grew into faith as he turned his son over to Christ. After hearing this father's humble plea for compassion, Jesus makes a statement that can apply to all of us, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
I picture the Savior standing eye-to-eye with this tormented father, piercing his broken heart with love and understanding. Perhaps this good man felt that his seed of faith was not enough, that he needed Christ to help him overcome his lingering doubts; thus, his emotional outcry, Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief. The Savior's answer came in the form of this man's sought after miracle. His child was healed, and "Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up."
I believe that this lifting up was not only manifest in the physical change that took place in the son, but in the spiritual strengthening of the father's faith in the Son of God. What miracles could take place in my life if I were to ask God each day to "help thou my unbelief" in areas where I feel I am lacking? I plan on finding out!
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