Jump Start # 770

Mark 9:22-23 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us! And Jesus said to him, ‘If You can? All things are possible to him who believes?”

Today, we travel to Mark 9. What a chapter! There is so much here. It’s like a suitcase that is so stuffed that a person has to sit on it to close it up. This chapter tells us that the kingdom came in the first century. Those who are still looking for Jesus to return to establish His kingdom need to take a close look at the first verse of this chapter. From that we travel to the transfiguration. From that to the demon possessed boy who is cured. From that Jesus reveals His coming resurrection from the dead which confuses the disciples. Then we catch the disciples fussing about which one of them is the greatest. Then warnings about stumbling and finally principles about salt.

We often find the disciples confused about what Jesus said and lacking the trusting faith that they would later have. Jesus is patient with them. However, one thing we notice is that the disciples seem to have a moral fiber and spiritual interest about them. They were often confused but never bored. They were not immoral, lawless and engaging in fleshly sins. Jesus did not catch the disciples getting drunk. He did not rebuke them for indecent thoughts or gutter language. Judas pilfered money that had been given to support Jesus, but the rest of them seemed to be men of character and quality. Good men can learn. Good men who have a heart can change. Good men who have a spiritual radar will eventually get it. Godless men who have no character, value, or principles is another story. I have found through the years that sometimes men with little character or no spiritual interests are put in leadership positions in the church. Why? Usually it’s someone’s buddy and the thought is that putting him in that position will turn him into what he should be. What a huge mistake! Trouble abounds. Things get messy. People with no character do not develop a character because they are put in charge of things. Jesus didn’t do that. Why should we? The apostles were good men that got better because of Jesus.

Our verse today concerns the father of a demon possessed boy. The text gives us the impression that the boy had been possessed for quite a while. The demon was causing the family many anxious moments. Because of the demon the boy was unable to speak. He often foamed at the mouth. But worst of all, there were times when the demon would throw the boy into a fire. One can only imagine how frightful that would be. He had to be watched all the time. Other times, the demon would throw the boy into water. These were life and death situations. Panic must have filled that home often.

The father brings the boy to Jesus with the desperate hope of finding help. Nothing else is working. Desperation has filled the home and their hearts. A large crowd gathers to watch. The father asks, “If you can do anything…” Jesus caught that. He leaped upon that statement. He replied, “If you can…” Wrong word. Belief would have asked, “Will you…” not, “If you.” If, is about ability. Jesus knew that. He could do anything. Casting out demons was common for the Lord. He had cast out legions of demons. There was no “if” about it.

Jesus turned the conversation into a lesson about belief for the father. Do you believe? The father honestly replied, “I do believe. Help my unbelief.”

You and I stand right where this father stood. Things happen, especially in our families. We wonder what can be done. We wonder if Jesus could do anything. The prodigal who won’t come home…the marriage that is falling apart…the aging parents that need constant attention…the mounting bills…the stress from work…the burdens of life. Can Jesus do anything? “If,” becomes a part of our vocabulary and our hearts. We wonder. We doubt. We struggle on.  We wonder “if” Jesus cares. We wonder “if” Jesus knows. We wonder “if” there is any point to any of this. That’s where desperation takes you. That’s the dead end of a doubting faith.

Yes, Jesus can. Give Him an honest heart and great things can happen. Give Him some credit, some praise and above all, some faith, and look out. Get that Bible open. Build that confidence. If God can part the seas, close the mouths of lions, and bring down the walls of Jericho, don’t you think He can help your marriage? Don’t give up.

“If” doesn’t belong in our list of words nor our hearts, not as long as we are walking with the Lord.

Lord, help our unbelief…

Roger