The Essence of Christianity
Faith is the very essence of what it means to be a Christian. This is because Christians follow a God, a Christ, and a Holy Spirit that we have not seen. We trust in a death and resurrection we haven’t seen, a justification we haven’t seen, and hope to live in a heaven we haven’t seen.
Faith is the hallmark of every Christian. Paul says that the “life we now live we live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal. 2:20) and that we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). The writer to the Hebrews says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (11:6).
Jesus’ first followers, the twelve men who lived with him in the flesh, had to learn how to live by faith and not by sight. They lived with Jesus for three years, but as Jesus’ time on earth came to an end, Jesus needed to teach them how they must live after his departure. They would have the memories of what he said and did, and the Holy Spirit would lead them and their associates to write down much of what they saw and heard, but they would soon lose sight of Jesus. They would soon have to live by faith, not sight.
Sufficient, But Not Perfect
We, just like them, must learn to live by faith. Our faith will never be perfect. But it is sufficient. It’s sufficient because it’s a gift from God and not something we accomplished on our own. We’re saved “by grace…and through faith. And this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). Our faith is often weak and wavering, but it’s sufficient because it’s from God and he designs it to unfailingly and eternally unite us to Christ.
But as we move through the mountains and valleys of this life, our faith comes with doubts. I love the chorus from an old Caedmon’s Call song, “My faith is like shifting sand, changed by every wave.” The winds and waves of the world daily assail our faith. Our faith is sufficient, but it’s not always strong.
A Lesson about Faith
We should take great comfort in the fact that the first disciples were no different than us. They lived with Jesus and still struggled with faith.
This last segment of Mark’s Gospel is focused on Jesus giving his disciples several private lessons, the first of which is on faith. Jesus knows what’s waiting for him in Jerusalem, but it’s still unclear to his disciples. So as he comes down from the mount of transfiguration and starts his journey to Jerusalem, he teaches his disciples a lesson about faith. The section is bookended by lessons on faith (9:14-29, 10:46-52) because he’d be leaving them soon and they must learn to live by faith.
Let’s look at the first lesson about faith that Jesus gives in 9:14-29. Rather than chop this story up into little pieces, I want to just let it unfold as we go. So rather than read the whole text, let’s look at it a little bit at a time.
From Glory to a Mess
Verse 14 says that Jesus and the disciples come down from the mount of transfiguration and immediately encounter a problem. They find the other nine disciples arguing with the scribes, surrounded by a crowd.
Have you ever left a time of worship with God and walked straight into a mess? Maybe a great quiet time at home that’s followed by problems at work, or a time of fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ that’s followed by antagonism by friends or family who don’t know Christ? You’re not alone. Jesus and his inner three walked out of glory and into depravity and darkness. Like Moses on Mount Sinai, Jesus comes down to a faithless people. But Jesus doesn’t disengage or leave his disciples to figure it out. He stays with them.
An Awestruck Crowd
A crowd gathers around the disciples because people assumed that Jesus would be wherever his people were. Scribes are there arguing with the disciples. Wherever Jesus went, the scribes were there trying to discredit him. They may’ve even been mocking the disciples, for reasons we’ll see in a moment.
Verse 15 says that the crowd was “greatly amazed” when they saw Jesus. They were “overwhelmed with wonder” (NIV). They were awestruck, like a bunch of teenagers at a Taylor Swift concert. Why? Because Jesus was the miracle man, the wonder worker. He was the Captain America or Tony Stark of that region. Crowds were always attracted to him because they wanted to see what he could do, not because they wanted to trust and follow him.
They’re also happy to see him because his disciples had disappointed them. The disciples were like the band that no one’s ever heard of that plays before the headliner. Everyone endures the first band just to see the headliner. The disciples had performed poorly and were in danger of being booed off the stage. Until the headliner, Jesus, shows up.
A Desperate Father
Jesus wants to know what they’re arguing about (v. 16). Jesus steps in and, in a sense, rescues the disciples. He covers for them, protects them, and helps them get out of the situation they’d gotten themselves into. Jesus loves to save his people.
The scribes or the disciples don’t say anything in response to Jesus’ question. Finally, someone in the crowd says something (v. 17a). The scribes didn’t answer because they knew it didn’t go well for them when they engaged with Jesus. The disciples didn’t answer because they were likely embarrassed, so they kept their mouths shut.
The man who spoke up from the crowd was the father of a boy who was demon possessed (v. 17b). Matthew’s account says that he approaches Jesus and falls on his knees (17:14-15). This man is coming in humble desperation, bringing to Jesus a burden that he can’t carry anymore.
A Demon-Possessed Boy
Ever since the Fall, demons have been in the world doing the work of Satan. Just because you don’t see them or believe in them doesn’t mean they’re not real. In our sophisticated and moral culture, they like to stay invisible and disguise themselves as angels of light. They don’t show their true colors but rather stay in the background influencing cultural ideas and feelings and moods. But they also influence people. They take up residence in people, in marriages, and even in children.
Look at what it was doing to this boy (v. 17b-18). It makes him mute and deaf (v. 25). It seizes him and throws him down, makes him foam at the mouth and grind his teeth and become stiff like a board. In Matthew’s account, the father says that he has epilepsy, but then it says that Jesus “rebuked the demon” (17:15, 18). This man’s son isn’t just ill. He’s being assaulted by the powers of darkness. This is no mere genetic disorder or childhood disease. The text makes it clear that it’s “the spirit” that’s causing these things to happen to the boy.
It’s true that the boy’s symptoms align with those that accompany a grand mall seizure, which are caused by some sort of dysfunction in the brain. The seizures could be the result of brain damage caused by the demon throwing the boy down countless times. It was slamming him to the ground again and again, likely giving him concussion after concussion. The demon is literally battering this boy to death. Little wonder he has these symptoms. Matthew’s account says that the spirit makes the boy “often fall into the fire or into the water” (17:15). The demon is trying to kill this boy.
Demons can have great control over our bodies. This does not mean that every physical ailment we have is from a demon, or that these kinds of seizures are always demonic. But what we must not do is believe the lie of naturalism that says that every malady has a natural explanation. That is a narrow-minded worldview. The more liberal, or broad, worldview of the Bible says that reality is more complex than that. There are unseen forces at work in ways we don’t understand or comprehend. To deny this and only look for medical and physiological answers is to ignore an entire dimension of God’s creation, namely, the unseen world of angels and demons.
Demons, Children, and Our Prayers
One application of this text is that we should be praying diligently for the spiritual protection of our children. In an excellent article titled, “Pray Against the Devil When You Pray for Your Kids,” Cameron Cole, asks “Would you stand idly by if an evil person were plotting to destroy your child? Would you tolerate an impostor actively working to deceive your child? Would you allow someone to condemn your baby? Not a chance. If a human did any of these things, you would oppose them wholeheartedly. But the reality is that a spiritual being seeks to do all these things. Praying for the spiritual defense of our children, therefore, is a wise and necessary practice. We don’t need to do this in a spirit of fear, because the Devil is a loser. Christ has defeated and disarmed him. As the apostle John puts it, ‘Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world’ (1 John 4:4).”
Our children are the most vulnerable targets in our homes and Satan knows that he can immobilize and paralyze parents for gospel ministry if he can get a hold of their children. Our society may think that an educated person could never believe such things. But the church must think that every person could be attacked by such things. Remember that when Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he taught them to pray, “Deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:13). Our culture shouldn’t shape our prayers more than Jesus.
Parents and future parents, are you praying for God to protect your children from the spiritual forces of darkness? Will you commit to pray for the protection of Suzy and I’s children?
The Failure of the Disciples
The end of verse 18 says that the disciples could do nothing about this demon. Why? Hadn’t Jesus given them power over demons (6:7)? And weren’t they successful in doing so (6:13)?
Jesus tells us what the problem was in verse 19. Yes, the crowd was faithless. But the problem Jesus is addressing is why the disciples couldn’t cast out this demon. He’s talking specifically to them. The continued lack or faith of the disciples had to be terribly frustrating for Jesus. What would it take to prove his power and authority to them? They struggled, just as we do, to trust in the power and goodness of Jesus.
A Partner in Our Pain
Jesus says to bring the boy to him. When they did, the boy’s dad would get what he wanted and the demon would get what he didn’t want (v. 20). The demon freaked out as soon as it saw Jesus, and rightfully so. It finally came face to face with the God who created it and who it was rebelling against.
Jesus asks the boy’s father how long this had been happening (v. 21a). Why does Jesus ask this question? He knows everything, so he already knows the answer. Would it influence his ability to cast it out? If it was in the boy for more than five years would the statute of limitations run out and Jesus not be able to do anything?
Why then does Jesus ask this? Because he wants the father to tell him the story, he wants to enter the father’s pain. John MacArthur says that Jesus wanted the father to know that he “was not coming to a power, (but)…to a person. And if there’s anything demonstrated in the miracle ministry of Jesus Christ, it is the compassion of God, that he cares and Christ cares, and he cares about your pain.”
Jesus cares about our suffering. He cares about the struggles we have with our children. He cares and wants to hear about the things that break our heart. He wants us to know that he’s not just a power, but that he’s a person, and that he’s a person who cares. He knows what’s been done to you and what’s been done by you and he wants you to unfold your heart to him, to be honest with him. Our feelings and pains and sufferings touch him. He loves us and wants to walk with us and carry the things that are crushing us.
“All Things Are Possible for the One Who Believes”
The boy’s father says that it’s been happening for a long time and he asks Jesus for help (vv. 21b-22). The father has been trying to keep the demon from killing his boy for his whole life. He’s been unable to rescue his boy, so he wonders if Jesus can do anything to help.
Jesus responds with surprise, “If you can!” (v. 23). He then says that “All things are possible for one who believes.” Jesus is saying that the problem isn’t his ability. The problem is the father’s unbelief.
Remember that this lesson is primarily for the disciples. They’re with Jesus, so they have access to his power. But they need to understand that the way to access Jesus’ power when they’re no longer with Jesus is through faith. The disciples aren’t going to be with Jesus for much longer, so they need to learn about the power of faith. They need to start learning how to live by faith. They would soon have to live by faith, not by sight, just as we do now. So they needed to know that Jesus’ power was available to all those who trust him.
We must not turn this verse into a universal promise that whatever we believe can happen will happen. The false teachers in the Word of Faith movement are telling people every day that if they just believe enough, then anything can be theirs: healing, financial success, reconciled relationships, bigger churches, or an abundant life. God can do anything. But he never promises to do anything we want him to. He’s not a genie in a bottle.
“I Believe; Help My Unbelief”
In response to this, the man cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (v. 24) His honesty here is so encouraging. He does believe that Jesus can help his son. But he’s struggling. He has doubts. His faith is weak and wavering. His faith is like shifting sand. He admits his weakness.
This is a sign that this man was a true believer. How so? Because those who have true faith in Jesus are painfully aware of how small and inadequate their faith is. True faith is revealed through an honesty and openness with God. And true faith is confident that Jesus is able to do things that we cannot do ourselves.
Are you like this man? Are you honest with Jesus about your doubts? Do you admit your weakness to him or strut around pretending like you have a faith that you don’t really have?
Jesus is about to unleash his power and grace on behalf of this man because of his humble trust. He loves to work on behalf of people like this. He “opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). God’s saving grace is for everyone who admits their need for it.
A Beautiful Ending
Jesus sees the crowd beginning to swell, so he makes quick work of this demon (v. 25). Jesus’ authority over demons is absolute. There’s no argument or wrestling match between them and him. When he speaks to them, he always wins and they always lose.
After the demon came out, it looks as if the boy is dead (v. 26). It appears that Jesus has made things worse, not better. This is often the case when Jesus’ power invades our lives. When Jesus saves us, things may become worse before they become better. We may lose relationships, we may lose things we once loved, and we may feel guilt and despair over our past sins.
But when Jesus enters our lives, he means to raise us up out of the death we once lived in, not leave us beat down (v. 27). Luke’s account says that Jesus gave him back to his father. What a beautiful picture of the grace and power of Jesus. He can make things right that looked like could never be made right. He can fix what’s broken. He can restore what’s been lost.
Lack of Faith Revealed in Lack of Prayer
The scene then shifts to a private conversation between Jesus and the disciples (vv. 28-29). The disciples had tried and failed to cast this demon out and they wanted to know why. Jesus’ answer again highlights their weak faith. He says that this kind could only be cast out by prayer. They’re lack of faith was revealed in their lack of prayer.
Matthew’s account makes this clear (17:20). Jesus isn’t saying that he’ll do whatever we want whenever we want. He’s using a figure of speech to say that God is ready and willing to do the impossible. He isn’t saying that if you pray with enough desire and passion that you’ll be able to “name it and claim it.” He’s saying that God is willing and able to move any obstacle that’s in the way of advancing his kingdom. He’s saying that God can move insurmountable things in our lives when we pray with faith.
One of the impossible things we need God to do is to increase our faith. “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.” He’s given us the gift of prayer to increase our faith. Prayer is one of the best ways to exercise our faith. If we don’t exercise our spiritual muscles through prayer, our faith will shrivel and shrink and deteriorate. A faith that has atrophied is often the result of a non-existent prayer life. This is why we devote significant time to prayer in the public gatherings of our church. We need to work out our faith together.
The winds and waves of the world daily blow against our faith. Our faith is sufficient, but it’s not always strong. As we come down from the mountain of worship this morning and encounter pain and problems of all kinds, will we be driven back to our Savior through prayer? May God strengthen our frail faith in his Son’s sufficiency.