Day 21: The Father of the Mute Boy (Mark 9: 14-29)
Jesus, Peter, James and John were returning to the other disciples. After having been on the mountain together where Jesus was trans-figured before them. It was very clear as they approached the disciples that something was up. A crowd surrounded the disciples, and they were in a heated argument with some of the scribes. As they came near, the crowd took a new interest in Jesus, and they ran to greet him.
Quickly a man began to describe what had just happened. He had brought his son for healing from a demon that possessed him. When put on the spot, the disciples had not been able to heal the mute boy who foamed at the mouth, ground his teeth, and was being slammed to the ground. His convulsions proved to be too difficult for them. “If You can do something, have pity on us!” the man pleaded.
“If You can? All things are possible for him who believes,” Jesus answered him.
“I want to believe,” the man thought. “But do I really believe?” For what seemed like hours, he wrestled with this question within himself. He felt an inner convulsion of his heart and mind that could have equaled the physical convulsion of his son. But in the midst of the turmoil, a light went on. “I believe this Man can help my son, and the problems I have with unbelief, He can help me with as well,” the man rejoiced. In a loud voice he proclaimed for all to hear, “I DO believe; help my unbelief!”
With a look of compassion and understanding, Jesus smiled at the man. Turning to the son, He commanded the spirit to come out and never return. Jesus raised the boy up from the ground; the crowd dispersed, and Jesus and his disciples went home. When asked why they couldn’t drive out the spirit, Jesus’ only reply was, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”
Do you believe in the power of prayer? Do you pray about everything? In what areas do you struggle with unbelief? Are you praying about them? Does your lack of prayer point to your unbelief? Do you ever pray this prayer, "I do believe; help my unbelief"?
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