Opening Up to the Possibilities

A Seemingly Hopeless Situation

Life is filled with times when we have been crushed by circumstances, our faith falters. But Jesus can help us, even when our faith is weak.

Mark 9:16–29 NIV

“What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure 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. After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

We all have had situations in our lives when we have run into problems and wondered, “Will this ever change?”. This story is a very rich instruction to each of us – especially when we are going through times of doubt and struggle.

Jesus IS Able!

You have probably heard this passage preached before. And, it brings up a whole lot of questions…which it really shouldn’t. It should bring us resolve and hope because ultimately what we learn is that Jesus is able. There is no doubt about that! And He can help you and me: there is no doubt about that!

I think that it is easy to approach this passage and label some actors good and some actors as bad but I don’t want to denigrate any of the actors in this situation. It just is. And, we’ve all been there at some point. In this passage there are 3 positions: (1) the disciples had believed something but weren’t able to exorcise the demon, (2) the father just straight up admittedly lacked belief, and, of course, (3) Jesus had complete confidence (He always does).

We need to be able to see beyond the ‘impossibilities’ of fear and discouragement to embrace the ‘possibilities’ of faith.

A Man, the Disciples, and Jesus

“A Man”

Who is this guy? He is just a guy from the community who has been going through a really hard time. His son is demon possessed. He has been dealing with him since childhood. According to Luke, this is his only son.

Mark 9:17–18 NIV

A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

Mark 9:21–22 NIV

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

This is what this father had been going through for what seems to be at least 2 decades (from childhood). That would be pretty distressing! Now add to that the fact that the father had just experienced another failure. He had brought his son to the men that he had heard were working amazing miracles – the disciples. But nothing had happened!

The answer to suffering cannot just be an abstract idea, because this isn’t an abstract issue; it’s a personal issue. It requires a personal response. It’s not a bunch of words, it’s the Word. It’s not a tightly woven philosophical argument; it’s a person. The person. The answer must be someone, not just something, because the issue involves someone—“God, where are you?” —Lee Strobel, The Case for Faith (Zondervan, 2000)[1]

We’ll come back to the father in just a moment but let’s focus on the disciples for a minute.

The Disciples

I don’t think that it is fair to be too hard on the disciples – although the statements of Jesus were pretty strong.

Mark 9:19 NIV

“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

I wouldn’t have attempted an exorcism without believing something – having some belief that God’s power could intervene. There is a powerful scene in the Chosen series when a teacher of the law, Nicodemus, is ‘pushed’ to perform an exorcism on Mary Magdalene. He fails miserably but marvels at the power of Jesus who eventually drives the demons away. In this circumstance, the disciples are unable to set this oppressed young man free.

We can all sympathize. There are things within our circles of life that we would like to see changed. We may have stepped up to pray for them, but we haven’t seen a change ----YET. Later, in private, Jesus will tell them that there are things that will only be moved through prayer.

Mark 9:28–29 NIV

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Of the several references to Jesus’ praying, on only one occasion does Mark take us inside, and that prayer begins with the affirmation Abba, Father, everything is possible for you (14:36). It is as though Mark were inviting his audience to follow the various references about prayer that do not describe what Jesus prayed about to this particular one. The prayers of 14:35–42 express a relationship in which Jesus placed his life in God’s hands and trusted God to give it back. For Mark prayer is not primarily a way of getting what we want from God. It is instead the space where we come to terms with God’s will. In Gethsemane Jesus reaffirmed the model of discipleship that he had spelled out in 8:35: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the gospel will save it.”[2]

I like the comments that are found in the Life Application Bible:

Jesus’ words do not mean that we can automatically obtain anything we want if we just think positively. Jesus meant that anything is possible if we believe because nothing is too difficult for God, even when our experience seems to indicate otherwise. We cannot have everything for which we pray as if by magic; but with faith, we can have everything we need to serve Christ. We are free to ask whatever we want, as long as we realize that God will answer according to his will (1 John 3:21–22; 5:14). When we will what he wills, then we truly will have the mind of Christ and can ask anything, being assured of God’s answers (see also John 14:13–14; 15:7).[3]

I believe in the power of prayer. I believe in the intercessory power of Abraham’s prayer. I believe in the power of the prayer of Gethsemane. I believe in the power of quiet prayer in ‘the garden’. I believe in the power of Grandmas/Grandpas, moms/dads, and friends. DON’T STOP PRAYING!

The disciples would eventually get it. In the book of Acts we have an account after Pentecost of Peter and John walking ‘one day’ to the temple to pray. A lame man shouted out for money and Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Sometime between Mark 9 and Acts 3 the disciples got something. I suggest it was a greater faith and the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Jesus

Let’s jump back to the interaction between Jesus and the man’s father. Remember, he was dejected, but he hadn’t quite given up all hope – there was still Jesus!

Mark 9:22–24 NIV

“It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

The father hadn’t given up, but he wasn’t quite sure either. Have you been there before? Has your situation deflated you and you almost feel flattened? I love the song, “Do It Again” and the lyrics “walking around these walls I thought by now they’d fall. But you have never failed me yet.” These lyrics speak to me of the hopes and dreams that God has placed in me, but I still don’t see them! I figured the walls would have already fallen – maybe you have too! But, it’s not over – “His promise still stands”.

The father meekly says, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us”. [Could almost have the altar call right now]. Jesus’ reply was strong, “If (I) can”. This was never in question. Jesus is absolutely capable of doing it. At issue was the father’s ability to believe.

There are some truths that we need to understand about belief:

It doesn’t have to be perfect and complete.

The son was healed even though the father admitted that his ability to believe was an issue.

In the middle of this account is one man’s desperate plea: I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! There are many ways to interpret what the man meant, but one thing is clear. Jesus did not expect him to overcome his doubt before the child was healed. The child was raised not because his father’s faith was perfect, but because Jesus believed all things were possible. Jesus helped the father’s unbelief by raising the boy. [4]

It is an expectation of the believer

We cannot let the fact that the man’s imperfect faith be a spiritual finish line for us. God wants us to grow in faith just like the disciple’s faith grew to the point that they were able to speak healing to a lame man.

A man who has faith will not set any limit to what Jesus can do.

The miracle does not depend on the degree, quality or amount of the man’s faith, but only on his having faith to link him effectively with the ministry of Jesus.

Here are 3 options to interpret what Jesus is teaching in this passage (only 1 is correct). Does Jesus’ ‘Everything is possible for him who believes’ mean,

(a) ‘I, Jesus, can do everything because of the amount or quality of my faith’, or

(b) ‘Everything is possible to you if only you had that amount or quality of faith’, or

(c) ‘Everything is possible if you have faith in what I can do for you’,

(C) Is correct. It places the emphasis not upon the degree of faith but upon the relationship of trust between the man and Jesus?

Ultimately, Our Faith (Belief) is Built Through a Growing Relationship with Jesus

Is there a problem in your life? Pray and grow your relationship with Jesus. Are you living a carefree life? Pray and grow your relationship with Jesus.

There are some truths we need to understand about God’s promises:

Our Heavenly Father is a good father and knows what is and IS NOT good for us.

The “everything” does not mean everything that comes to our minds or that we would desire for ourselves. Our faith and prayers must be based on God’s will (i.e., his purposes, plans and desires). We must not expect God to answer a prayer for something that is foolish, selfish or wrongly motivated (James 4:3). - Fire Bible Notes

The Father, the Everyman

You know, at its core this passage is a very encouraging passage. Yes, it calls us to grow in our relationship with Jesus and develop greater faith, but we also realize that because Jesus is so good, we don’t have to have a perfect faith – a little, even the size of a mustard seed will suffice.

We can ask Jesus to help our unbelief – and Jesus does!

It is a mistake to read this passage as though it were a kind of divine imperative to have absolute faith. Jesus did not demand it of this boy or his father... Jesus’ declaration, Everything is possible for him who believes, is an exhortation to come to terms with the heart of the gospel. It is not a spur for our feelings; it is a pointed encouragement to come to terms with the greatest mystery of all—that it was God’s will for the Son of Man to die and be raised on the third day. That truth and its implications for those who wish to follow Jesus is the foundation of faith.[5]

The example of this father to this demon possessed son is a tremendous example and encouragement to all of us. We learn that faith can grow and that God will help regardless of our level of faith. Ultimately, Christianity is about a relationship with Jesus that grows and grows and grows. With it so grows our faith. Don’t give up! Don’t give in!

Alumni and fans made UCLA football coach Pepper Rodgers’s life miserable the year his Bruins got off to a horrible start. Nobody in Southern California would hang out with him. “My dog was my only true friend,” Rodgers said.

“I told my wife that every man needs at least two good friends. She bought me another dog.”

Rodgers is tough in the face of adversity, however. When his players at UCLA were having difficulty adapting to the wishbone offense he’d installed and the school’s alumni demanded that he adopt another system, Rodgers didn’t budge. “The wishbone is like Christianity,” he said. “If you believe in it only until something goes wrong, you didn’t believe in it in the first place.” —“A Look at Our Legacy,” coachwyatt.com(August 29, 2003)[6}

[1]Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 447. [2]Ronald J. Kernaghan, Mark, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007), 178. [3]Bruce B. Barton, Mark, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1994), 258. [4]Ronald J. Kernaghan, Mark, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007), 177–178. [5]Ronald J. Kernaghan, Mark, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007), 177–178. [6]Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 449.