Day 24 – Overcome my unbelief
Mark 9:14-29
When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. “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”.
Liz Nixon writes:
Jesus has just had a most glorious moment with His Father, and yet He comes down the mountain and back to earth with a bump! The disciples have been unable to expel a demon from a boy, despite having done this earlier in the book of Mark when sent out by Jesus. He rebukes them for being an unbelieving generation. There seems to be little response from the disciples, but the boy’s father responds beautifully when he says “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”. He displays such honesty and vulnerability, both before Jesus and the large crowd. And I think it’s a really helpful phrase to use when we are struggling to believe God for healing for a loved one or ourselves, for a change in circumstance, a calming of the storm, or whether simply to believe God is good.
Where would you love to believe Jesus for something in your life? Or in the life of someone you love? Ask Him for His help in overcoming your unbelief in this area.