Discipleship and Faith

Mark 9:14-29 (NLT) The Gospel of Mark Discipleship and Faith Introduction: Mark is written for disciples. It’s a road map for discipleship to Jesus. So in a time where there is a lot of confusion about what’s going on, who we are and what we are to be doing - Mark’s gospel is a road map for the people of God in how to follow the way of Jesus. Mark is also a book of mystery - Mark’s Gospel is so filled with mysterious references to Jesus and his identity. Mark, though rarely quoting the OT, is a master of the Biblical text and has told the story of how God is cryptically and mysteriously present and bringing his kingdom on earth through the suffering, crucified and resurrected messiah, Jesus. The story we just read is not just another story about demonic oppression and the power of Jesus, though it is that. It’s a lesson about faith. Mark underscores faith or faithfulness as a central and abiding theme of his Gospel. From the very beginning of Mark’s narrative with Jesus’ proclaiming: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” This proclamation sets the stage for Jesus' kingdom of God demonstration as seen in the healings, miracles and exorcisms, etc, and eventually through Jesus’ death and resurrection. In each miracle Mark makes it clear that it is only after faith is evident that Jesus responds in a marvelous display of power. On the other hand, Jesus expresses astonishment at the lack of faith exhibited by many. The overall picture we get is that faith, or faithfulness, though absent in much of Israel, is the essential posture for discipleship to Jesus… The whole section from 8:27-10:52 is concerned with the impending suffering of Jesus and the nature of discipleship. The whole scene is - in the shadow of the cross - there are contentions, power is not present, faith is difficult. It’s a passage about faithfully following Jesus amidst adversity and setbacks... This is why they disciples are so prominent in the story: Arguing with the scribes - vs.14-15 Unable to do anything to help the father and his demoniac son. - vs.18 Instructed in the cause of their failure - vs. 28-29 As I said, this is not just another story about Jesus’ power over the demonic realm but this is a story about discipleship. 1. The Faithless Generation a. In all three of the synoptic gospels this story immediately follows the transfiguration on the mountain top. It seems that each writer wants to connect this story to Moses’ return from his mountain top encounter with God (Exodus 32), only to find faithlessness on Israel’s part (thew golden calf..). b. Upon returning Jesus finds the disciples arguing with the scribes and being informed concerning what the commotion is all about - The disciples powerlessness over the demon Jesus responds - “oh faithless generation, how long shall I be with you.” He has already used this term identifying the religious leaders with unfaithful Israel (8:12), but now even the disciples are grouped in this unfaithfulness - Disciples are in danger of the same faithlessness as ancient Israel, not just the religious leaders. (Deuteronomy 32:20) i. This statement of faithlessness as applied to the nine powerless disciples shows that they are indistinguishable from the unbelieving religious leaders and the crowd. c. But the faithlessness of the disciples is only the surface understanding of what’s going on. We know that Mark was written for the early church as a discipleship manual teachings in how to follow Jesus as his disciple. d. Many therefore see this as a challenge to Mark’s audience. If the transfiguration is a picture of the resurrection, the descending of the mountain to return to disciples is a picture of the return or second coming of Christ and yet the scene is disastrous - Disciples are found arguing, powerless in the face of demonic attack, and powerless to incredible human need and suffering. There is no faith or dependence on Jesus, only the powerlessness of human self reliance. e. We might remember that in the Gospel of Luke Jesus tells a series of parables and in the middle he puts forth this searching question - “When the son of man comes, will he find faith, or faithfulness on the earth?” f. This is also then a warning passage to disciples in every generation - When the Lord Jesus returns, how will he find his disciples? Arguing and being divisive, powerless to the works of darkness, powerless to human need and suffering or will he find us full of faith, continuing his mission of making the kingdom of God and it’s power known? i. Implicit in the account is that Jesus’ followers are expected to have full faith, faithfulness to him and his power even in his absence, and that we must continue his ministry in the same power that he manifested… 2. The Negative Effects of Faithlessness a. Sadly we see in this passage that the disciples lack of power and faith has actually affected this man’s faith in Jesus’ power and authority. Jesus has not properly been represented by his disciples in his absence. The Disciples are argumentative, faithless, and powerless in the face of demonic oppression, human suffering and need. The boy's condition is so dire, it’s incredibly dark and hopeless. The father comes in total desperation for the state of his son and is tragically disappointed with what he receives. b. So much so, that when Jesus shows up the man wonders if Jesus can really do anything to help him…(Help us, If you can) Wow! How many times has the church, disciples of Jesus, hindered people from coming to Jesus, trusting in and seeing his cleansing, healing, power?! Sadly, we often find the same dissension, bickering, argumentative spirit in the church as we do in the world. Often the Church has been powerless to demonic power and human need! What a misrepresentation of our King and his kingdom. i. Missiologist, Michael Goheen, says, The Church of the west often fails to live up to it’s high calling because it is hamstrung by, “A low spiritual state of the church, a lukewarm love for Christ, a sickly worldliness, and a lack of vital prayer. The reason? Self-satisfaction that comes from comfort, compromise with capitalism, and accommodation to the consumeristic spirit of our age” Michael Goheen, Introducing Christian Mission Today c. Thankfully this is not the end of the story. For we know that our Lord Jesus is full of both compassion and power. Upon being informed of the failure of the disciples, Jesus calls the father to bring his son to him. d. So far things in this gospel have been relatively easy and positive. Jesus’ ministry and movement has been continually picking up momentum and popularity. He is hugely successful and popular among the multitudes. Things have come relatively easy - even in terms of faith, it’s simple and easy faith. People touch Jesus and are healed, it seems as simple as that. But not for this man, in this situation, faith is hard. In fact, we often use his words to describe our own struggle when we don’t know what is going on in our life and the world; when things seem out of control and we are uncertain of what the Lord is doing.. e. After explaining for the second time his son's condition, he says to Jesus, “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can…” f. Jesus responds, (probably with a smile), “What do you mean, If I can? Anything is possible if a person believes.. g. Jesus indicates that the problem or inability for deliverance does not lie with him - Jesus, as we have seen has uncontested power and authority over all things. He speaks a word and it is done, bringing death to life, chaos to order, purity to the defiled, wholeness to the broken…. h. Jesus, as the king of the kingdom of God possesses all the restorative power of God’s good kingdom, as has been clearly seen in the narrative so far. i. What Jesus is calling for is faith or faithfulness on the Father’s part, and audacious faith at that - a faith that is placed in the limitless power of God. This isn’t just spiritual mumbo jumbo, positive thinking, or anything like that. Jesus is calling for this man to give everything he has, however weak it might be, to him j. The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.” k. I love this, he gives what he has, AND what he lacks into the hands of Jesus, he turns himself over entirely, broken, doubting, and believing. And he is not disappointed!!! And so it shall be for all who give themselves in this same way to Jesus! And that’s what it means to have faith in or be faithful to Jesus - to give ourselves entirely to him! l. The cleansing and healing of his son is entire and final “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again! Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.” 3. The Debrief - Prayerlessness as a sign of a lack of Faith a. Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” b. Upon receiving the news of the disciples inability to cast out the demon Jesus speaks of the disciples faithlessness but then later when asked why they couldn’t cast it out Jesus attributes the disciples powerlessness to a lack of prayer. c. So which one is it? d. It would seem that what we see in this passage is that prayerlessness is evidence of self confidence, and a sign of not being dependent upon God… I’m not sure that we would ever see it that way, I think we give ourselves a lot of grace when it comes to our prayer life - we’re busy, we’re distracted, we don’t know what to pray, we’re not sure prayer really does anything to affect God’s will… But Jesus our master and teacher would say, the reason we don’t pray is because we don’t rely enough on God, we lack faith, whether in God’s goodness, in God’s providential presence or in God’s power... e. The disciples, in Jesus’ absence, had been tempted to believe that the gift they had previously received from Jesus (Mark 6:7) was in their control and could be exercised at their disposal. This was a subtle form of unbelief, encouraging them to trust in themselves and their past experience, rather than God…. But previous success provides no guarantee of continued power …. How many of us are relying on past experience - what “worked” previously, rather than relying on fresh power and daily dependence on the Lord? i. There are some among the church today who have become persuaded by the effectual power of politics, science, technology, economics, etc, seeing that this is where the real power lies. This is evident by their neglect of prayer, scripture, the gospel and the community, as a prioritized practice and essential part of their life, and a neglect of the whole way of Jesus’ life.. f. It brings to mind how Jesus taught disciples, in the Lord's Prayer - “Give us this day, our daily bread… Present, active daily dependence on God, his provision and kingdom power to be manifested in the world.. The life of discipleship is daily, it’s personal and personable, it’s ad hoc! g. Disciples have already seen this practice of reliance through prayer in the life of Jesus…Regularly, before the sun rose... i. "Jesus explained to the disciples that such powerful evil spirits can be expelled only by full reliance, and allegiance to the unlimited power of God expressed through prayer” - William Lane Closing: What are we ultimately looking to or trusting in? Some political party, the economy, our own resilience and prowess? Where does the true power of healing for our world, our own culture and lives lie? For disciples of Jesus our ultimate hope, and consolation is in the king and the coming kingdom of God - that power that will transform our bodies and this whole world. This is our ultimate hope for healing and redemption. Everything else is secondary. And the way we show this commitment to, and hope in the kingdom of God is through a life of dependent prayer - ultimately we are praying, God's name, power, and glory to be known in all the earth. We are praying for his kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven - This is our daily, moment to moment prayer and posture as disciples of Jesus.. Are with Jesus in his difficult way to the cross? Or is he our teacher only in the good times, and in the victories and blessings, but not in the way of suffering. Are we left muddled, unable to do even what we used to be able to do…(Finding faith difficult at this point in the journey) Are we facing a new turn in our pilgrimage, needing fresh reserves of spiritual strength, needing to spend more time, and more intensity in our prayers?