Help Me with My Doubts!
Mark 9:14-29
The
amazing story of Charles Blondin, a famous French tightrope walker, is a
wonderful illustration of what true faith is. Blondin's greatest fame came on
September 14, 1860, when he walked across the mighty Niagara Falls. People from
both Canada and America came from miles away to see this great feat. He walked
across, 160 feet above the falls, several times... each time with a different
daring feat - once in a sack, on stilts, on a bicycle, in the dark, and
blindfolded. One time he even carried a stove and cooked an omelet in the
middle of the rope!
A
large crowd gathered and the buzz of excitement ran along both sides of the
river bank. The crowds went wild as Blondin carefully walked across - one
dangerous step after another - pushing a wheelbarrow holding a sack of potatoes.
Then at one point, he asked for the participation of a volunteer. Upon reaching
the other side, the crowd's applause was louder than the roar of the falls! Blondin
suddenly stopped and addressed his audience:
"Do
you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?" The crowd
enthusiastically yelled, "Yes! You are the greatest tightrope walker in
the world. We believe! “Okay," said Blondin, "Who wants to get into
the wheelbarrow.” The crowds went silent! no one dared to step in that wheel
barrow at that time![1] So, Blondin turned to his
manager Harry Colcord. “Harry, do you
believe I can carry you across?” “Yes”,
said Harry, “I know you can.” “Then
climb on!” And Harry became the only man
who was ever carried across the raging Niagara Falls by his friend since he was
the only man with real faith in Blondin.
This
unique story illustrates a real-life picture of what faith actually is. The
crowd watched these daring feats. They said they believed. But... their actions
proved they truly did not believe but were imprisoned to their doubts and fears.
Similarly, we say we believe in God, come to church regularly, hear faith
building stories and messages. However, when it comes to entrusting all of our
life into the hands of Jesus Christ, and believe that he can forgive, heal, and
provide for our needs we get paralyzed by our doubts.
Today
we will look at a story where Jesus once again proved that nothing is
impossible for him, while harshly rebuking the unbelieving crowds and helping a
desperate father who was plagued with his own doubts. Mark 9:14-29. Here is the
background of this story. In the first twelve verses of chapter nine, Mark
records one of the most spectacular events in the gospels, the transfiguration
of Jesus on a mountain. For the very first time Jesus’ three closest disciples
witnessed the transformation of Jesus and his conversation with Moses and
Elijah. They heard the affirming voice of God the father that said, “This is my
son, the one I love. Listen to him!
Peter
thought of capturing this rare event, suggested to build three shelters one for
Jesus, one for Moses and Elijah. But Jesus knew his mission was not yet
accomplished so he instructed them not tell this event to anyone until he has
been raised from the dead. Then four of them made their way down to the other
nine disciples. There they saw a large crowd, and legal experts arguing with
the disciples. Jesus asked, what’s all this fuss about? Let’s pick our story
from here.
I “O,
Unbelieving Generation!”
Vs, 17-19, “A man
out of the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my mute son, made speechless by
a demon, to you. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams
at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes stiff as a board. I told your
disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they couldn’t.” The answer of
this father evoked a sharp response from Jesus. Jesus replied, “O, unbelieving generation, “how long shall I stay
with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
The word “generation” indicates that
Jesus ‘exasperation was not merely with the father of the boy, or the nine
disciples but also with the unbelieving scribes, who were no doubt gloating
over the disciple’s failure.
We
see here Jesus’ frustration with people who in spite of seeing many miracles remained
unbelieving. At one-point Jesus denounced his home town Capernaum for their
refusal to believe him as the messiah. Matthew 11:23, “And you, Capernaum, will
you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty
works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this
day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for
the land of Sodom than for you.” This scripture indicates that Jesus was
particularly upset about the hardness and the unbelieving heart of the people
of his own home town where he performed a great deal of miracles. Let’s
translate this into our context.
What
would Jesus think and say about our generation? What would he say about
Christians everywhere who in spite of seeing Christ’s power remain doubtful?
What would he say about the members of Hope Church who even after seeing God’s
intervention, provision, restoration and healing yet refuse to surrender their
lives to the Lordship of Jesus? Hope
none of us are included in that harsh rebuke of Jesus that is aimed at unbelieving
people.
II. THE
POWER OF THE EVIL SPIRITS.
Though
the crowds, the teachers of the law, the father of the boy and his own
disciples have failed to see and recognize the power and the authority of
Jesus, but the evil spirit knew who Jesus really was. During Jesus’ ministry the
evil spirits recognized Jesus from a distance. Remember on one occasion a demon
actually spoke through a man?
Mark
1:24, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy
us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” I John 3:8, “The reason the Son of
God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” Yes, when Jesus died on
the cross and rose again he has defeated Satan and put a dent into his works on
the earth. One day he will completely and permanently destroy Satan and all his
followers forever. For more on this matter read my sermon series on “The Lord’s
Prayer.”
In
the passage we read, a father brings his son who was being tormented by an evil
spirit from childhood. This particular evil spirit was powerful, violent and a
dangerous one. It made this boy mute. Besides that, the evil spirit would throw
him in to the fire and water with an intention to destroy him. When the boy was
brought before Jesus the real confrontation begins. When the evil spirit saw
Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into convulsion, and he fell on the ground
and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.” Listen to the tone of the father.
III
A HELPLESS FATHER.
Vs
18, “So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” The
disciples’ failure to cast this particular evil spirit is surprising, in light
of the power granted them by Jesus earlier. Mk 3:14-15, “And he appointed
twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he
might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.” Mk
6:13, “And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick
and healed them.” Yet on this occasion, they could not cast out this particular
demon why?
The
following sentence explains the desperate nature of the situation and the
helplessness of a father. The father said to Jesus, “if you can do anything,
have compassion on us and help us.” Listen to this interesting back and forth
conversation between a helpless father and Jesus.
IV.
HELP ME WITH MY DOUBTS
One could only Imagine what this poor
father must have been going through. The father’s statement explains the
gravity of the situation. The demon has caused much harm to the boy. He may
have been disfigured from burn scars, and possibly further ostracized because
of them. His situation also created a hardship for his family, who would have
to watch the boy constantly protect him from harm. They have tried everything
to find relief from this situation, including brining the boy to the disciples
and asking them to heal him, but his disciples couldn’t help.
So,
out of such desperation the father said, “if
you could do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Apparently, this
father had given up all hope. The issue here however is not whether Jesus can
heal this boy but it is does the father believe that he can. It is not about
Jesus’ lack of power, but it is about the lack of faith of the father. Though
Jesus often healed apart from the faith of those involved in this particular
situation, he chose to emphasize the power of faith.
Jesus
said, If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” In other
words, if you can believe I can heal your son then you will see a miracle.
Immediately the father cried out, “I believe, help my unbelief.” In the Message,
it reads, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!” The father here represents
a much bigger and wider problem of unbelief.
As
we look through the pages of the Bible many struggled with unbelief. God had to
rebuke the nation of Israel for their lack of faith in Him in spite of all the
great wonders He had performed. It was the same situation during Jesus’ time,
the crowds and the disciples had a hard time believing in Jesus, and a similar
pattern seems to continue even today. Who among us never had any doubts about
God, Jesus, salvation and about what he says about life and the life to come
claims of the Bible? We all did, and we may continue to struggle with doubts
from time to time. If you are struggling with doubts right now, you are not
alone, welcome to the club.
In
the story the father on one hand believed, but on the other hand recognized his
own unbelieving heart, so he cried out saying, “Help me with my doubts.” I
think it is a good prayer to pray. Jesus responded to that prayer and rebuked
the evil spirit to leave that boy and never to enter him ever again. The evil
spirit came out after violently convulsing the boy, and the boy looked like as
though he was dead. Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and
he stood up. When he came into the house the disciples asked him a question
that had been bothering them since the beginning of this encounter. Why
couldn’t we drive it out? Jesus replied,
this kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.
He
said this to emphasize the fact that certain confrontations from the evil
spirits require persistent prayer coupled with fasting, as he himself fasted
for 40 days and prayed when he faced Satan in the wilderness. Similarly,
certain difficult situations and problems we encounter in our own lives require
persistent prayer and fasting before we can see a break through. Let me
conclude this message with the following statements: There is nothing
impossible for God, He can do all things. If only we believe we will see the
glory of God.
The
evil spirits are powerful but remember Jesus who lives in our hearts is greater
than all the power of the evil spirits put together. Are you facing a desperate
situation? Are your feeling helpless? Bring it to Jesus, let him handle it, ask
him for his mercy and compassion. Are you plagued with doubts? It is OK to have
doubts, but do not remain in your doubts, exercise your faith, cry out to Jesus,
“Lord help me with my doubts” It is a powerful prayer, repeat it as often as
you need it, and you will see Jesus delivering you from the evil one. Amen!
