Proper 19: Gospel, Mark 9:14-29                                               

Mark 9:14-29

Our Lord, in mixing it up with great numbers of people in the gospel accounts, encounters varying degrees of belief. That dips into the negative side of the scale as unbelief. And before we allow ourselves to entertain the idea that belief or unbelief are innocuous levels of mental assent, realize that it is unbelief regarding Jesus and His gospel that damns us for eternity. It is not stepping over the line on all those nasty practices. No. It’s encountering the glorious Son of God and not receiving the gifts of repentance and faith He is so eager to give. 

In our gospel today we encounter Jesus dealing with great need once again. A boy is possessed by an alien spirit, and it’s somewhat routine with him. The father is at wit’s end and upon bringing him to our Lord’s disciples, his expectation is that they will make short work of the desired expulsion. They can’t. “So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able” (Mark 9:18). Jesus, in response, shows genuine exasperation at their inability.  And when the father brings the boy to the Savior, an unsteady, “But if you can do anything …” (v. 22) points to the father’s doubts in Jesus after rubbing up against the disciple’s impotence. “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes” is Jesus’ response. As an aside, just imagine hearing and receiving that declaration from Jesus. It is heart stopping. Onward.

The father then makes one of the strongest confessions of any character in Scripture. And what makes it strong is its inherent weakness. Listen again, “I believe; help my unbelief” (v. 24). Jesus is here for the “least of these.” Jesus calls those who “labor and are heavy laden.” Jesus speaks life to those dead and buried. Remember Christian, strength is made perfect in weakness.

Make it a point to grab on to the weak and unimpressive in the Bible. It’s very often those very folks whom Jesus will lift to be known by all who open the Scriptures. It’s an honor to them. And a great lesson for you and me.