In my last post, A
Crumb Is Enough, I ended with a verse from the context of another story, a
praying father who had suddenly realized just how weak his faith was. Unlike the woman who believed that just a
crumb of Jesus’ power was enough to cast out the demon from her daughter, this
man had brought his son to Jesus’ disciples begging them to cure him of a
similar affliction only to hit a stone wall.
They could not help him.
As Jesus arrives on the scene, He is appalled and wearied because of the lack of faith that he finds, both in the man and in His disciples. You can hear the frustration in His voice: “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?”
But Jesus, always compassionate, does not send the man away. Rather He tells him to bring his son to Him. But He does not immediately heal the boy. Instead, He engages the father in conversation, asking him about the history of his son’s affliction. He tells Jesus it has been ever since he was a child and pleads for Him to do something to help him, adding: “If You can.”
Jesus reply is, “All things are possible to him who believes.” Quickly the boy’s father cries out, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
What happened to this man in the moments between the doubting “If You can” and his confession, “I do believe”? Suddenly, there seemed to be a small spark of faith, yet at the same time he humbly acknowledged how weak it was and immediately asked for help to believe more.
How could this have happened? He heard the words of Jesus, “All things are possible…,” and, I believe, he had begun to sense the greatness of His power and person. Jesus’ words (the very word of God) penetrated not just his ears, but his heart, and faith, though tiny, sprang to life. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). It can happen in a moment.
This father’s prayer for his son was answered miraculously. But what do you think? Was his second prayer, the one for help in overcoming his unbelief also answered? Do you think his small beginning of faith was rewarded with a stronger faith as a result of trusting Jesus to heal his son?
And how about you, can you identify with this father praying for his son, knowing you have faith, but realizing how weak it sometimes is? I can, and once again, I am reminded, to praise Him for His compassions that “never fail, they are new every morning,” in spite of the littleness of my faith. And will He not in the same way increase our faith as we exercise the little that we have?
A final gem from the story: As I continue my studies in Mark, I see in this event yet another illustration of a recurring theme. No one who encounters Jesus is ever the same afterward. Either they turn to Him, or they turn away from Him. Have you truly met Him? If you have, you know what I mean.
As Jesus arrives on the scene, He is appalled and wearied because of the lack of faith that he finds, both in the man and in His disciples. You can hear the frustration in His voice: “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?”
But Jesus, always compassionate, does not send the man away. Rather He tells him to bring his son to Him. But He does not immediately heal the boy. Instead, He engages the father in conversation, asking him about the history of his son’s affliction. He tells Jesus it has been ever since he was a child and pleads for Him to do something to help him, adding: “If You can.”
Jesus reply is, “All things are possible to him who believes.” Quickly the boy’s father cries out, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
What happened to this man in the moments between the doubting “If You can” and his confession, “I do believe”? Suddenly, there seemed to be a small spark of faith, yet at the same time he humbly acknowledged how weak it was and immediately asked for help to believe more.
How could this have happened? He heard the words of Jesus, “All things are possible…,” and, I believe, he had begun to sense the greatness of His power and person. Jesus’ words (the very word of God) penetrated not just his ears, but his heart, and faith, though tiny, sprang to life. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). It can happen in a moment.
This father’s prayer for his son was answered miraculously. But what do you think? Was his second prayer, the one for help in overcoming his unbelief also answered? Do you think his small beginning of faith was rewarded with a stronger faith as a result of trusting Jesus to heal his son?
And how about you, can you identify with this father praying for his son, knowing you have faith, but realizing how weak it sometimes is? I can, and once again, I am reminded, to praise Him for His compassions that “never fail, they are new every morning,” in spite of the littleness of my faith. And will He not in the same way increase our faith as we exercise the little that we have?
A final gem from the story: As I continue my studies in Mark, I see in this event yet another illustration of a recurring theme. No one who encounters Jesus is ever the same afterward. Either they turn to Him, or they turn away from Him. Have you truly met Him? If you have, you know what I mean.
No comments:
Post a Comment