Lifted

Introduction

There are many instances in the Bible which it seems like there was no hope or no way to recover. Yet, God provides a way that makes what seemed impossible become possible.

There are many times in our lives that happens as well. We have a dire situation that seems impossible, but God intervenes. In the past few weeks, we have seen how God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We have also seen that God chooses the nobodies and makes somebodies.

Sometimes, another person’s situation becomes our nightmare. Our text today comes from a story in Mark 9. A father comes to Jesus explaining that his son is possessed by spirit that has robbed him of his speech and causes him to violently throw himself on the ground. I would imagine that it was a horrible situation,

The father has gone to the disciples and they could not heal the boy. Jesus tells the father to bring the boy to Him. The father says, “but if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

There are two things about that statement that are interesting to me. First, the father says, “if you can..” to Jesus. Jesus picks up on that as well.

Mark 9:23 NIV84

“ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

The father responds immediately exclaiming “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”

The second thing I notice about the father’s request is that he is asking for pity and help not just for the boy, but for them both. He says, “but if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” I am reminded that sometimes a situation that is particular to someone close to us also affects us as well. The boy needed a touch from Jesus to have his life restored. This father’s life was miserable and he needed a touch also. When lives are completely down trodden and hopelessly defeated, Jesus can turn our misery into marvelous and our pain into praise.

Notice how He does just that in the verses we are going to focus on today, Mark 9:25-27.

Mark 9:25–27 NIV84

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

As we see Jesus helping both the boy and his father, we can see His greatness, His gentleness and His goodness.

Notice His Greatness (vs. 25-26)

Jesus is the absolute Son of God. John 1:1 says:

John 1:1 NIV84

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 NIV84

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Since He is the Son of God who came from the Father, full of grace and truth, He is aware. We see in several passages of scripture that Jesus is constantly aware. He is aware of discussions.

Matthew 16:8 NIV84

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?

Mark 8:17 NIV84

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?

He is aware of situations that are upsetting. Once a woman came to him with and anointed Him with very expensive perfume The disciples were upset.

Matthew 26:10 NIV84

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

Jesus is aware of what causes us to grumble. An example of this is found in John 6:61.

John 6:61 NIV84

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?

Jesus is constantly aware.

In the passage of our study, He is aware of the need, the crowd and the condition that surrounds Him. Jesus knows the boy is possessed by an evil spirit. He knows the crowd is pressing in and wanting to see a miracle. He knows of the misery this family has experience. Awareness is a part of His greatness.

Since He is aware, we can realize that He is able. Jesus is told by the boy’s father that the disciples could not heal him. Though they failed him, Jesus would not. The disciples had been careless in their faith and walk with God. Ever been there? Do you forget just how able He is? Let me remind you of a few things:

Romans 16:25 NIV84

Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,

Jude 24 NIV84

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—

Hebrews 7:25 NIV84

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Jesus is able and that is another aspect of His greatness. However, the greatness of our Lord Jesus comes about most of all because He is Almighty. The Bible tells us that He is God and is with God all the time, even in the future.

John 10:30 NIV84

I and the Father are one.”

Matthew 26:64 NIV84

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Notice His Gentleness

Jesus recognizes the situation. He calls out the evil spirit. He calls it out by what it is and He commands it to leave. He then restores the boy to a better condition. One they we can count on is that when we encounter Jesus, He makes us much better than we were before.

Jesus calls out the evil spirit but never calls out the boy. That’s a lesson for us as parents, we call out the action or behavior but never belittle the child.

Jesus restores the boy to the condition for which he was created to be. He restores him to the son that the father had hoped for. He restores him to a whole being instead of one being controlled by this evil spirit.

Jesus also does something we see Him do in other places of scripture. He reaches out and connects where the boy is and in gentleness, lifts him up.

What a blessing to know Jesus does this!

When we look at thee story of Zacchaeus, Jesus went to foot of the tree of where he was and reached up to him. (Luke 19:5).

Jesus reached out to the leper to heal as we see in Matthew 8:3 and in Luke 5:13. He reached out to Peter with Peter was sinking in his own ability in Matthew 14:31.

Jesus recognized, restored and then reached out to this young boy who had this battle all of his life. When Jesus did all this in and through His gentleness, this young boy was rescued.

Have you ever been in a situation that was as terrible as what this young boy and his father faced day in and day out? The gentleness of Jesus removed that which tormented this boy and his father and then commanded that evil spirit to never enter him again.

Why is that important? We learn in other scriptures that when evil spirits are removed, something else needs to replace it so they will not return with a vengeance.

Matthew 12:43–45 NIV84

“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Mark 5:12 NIV84

The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.”

We can be filled with the glory of Jesus, or we can be filled with that which is evil.

1 John 3:8 NIV84

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

We see in Mark’s gospel that this young boy did not have much of a life. We see that he was controlled and his life consisted of violent behavior. Yet Jesus intervened through His greatness and His gentleness.

Mark 9:27 NIV84

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

Is it not just like Jesus to reach our to us to gently and then lift us up? But notice that Jesus does not stop there.

Notice His Goodness (vs. 27)

Jesus was compassionate to this boy. That was and still is one of the most beautiful characteristics of Jesus.

Matthew 20:34 NIV84

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Jesus shows us here that He is caring. Just like His Father.

Nahum 1:7 NIV84

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,

1 Peter 5:7 NIV84

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

The goodness of our Lord Jesus shows up in His compassion and His care. However, it does not stop there. He continues to show us His love and mercy. You see, we see in this example that Jesus took the boy’s hand, lifted him up, and he stood up.

Jesus continues to help him beyond his deliverance. His greatness gives him the authority to make the deliverance. His gentleness is the method in which he makes the deliverance. However, His goodness continues the deliverance forever more.

Charles Spurgeon wrote: “He has love you long, He has loved you well, He loves you forever, and He still shall love you.”

So here is a few things to consider as we apply this passage to our lives.

There are many things in our lives that have taken control that are apart from God’s design.

We would be wise to allow Jesus to remove them from our lives through His greatness, His gentleness, and His goodness.

We need to understand that when we allow Jesus to do this, He will replace that item with His loving kindness and grow it in your life forever, but only if you let Him.

Jesus will take your hand, lift you up and help you to stand on His word, His way, and His walk.