14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
Mark 9:14-29
Jesus’ disciples and scribes debated the questions – why couldn’t they cast the deaf-mute demon out of the child? What is the right way to help this child? Is the traditional method of the scribes correct, or the practice of the disciples? Why couldn’t that evil spirit be cast out? The child’s father was still very anxious and in pain, watching his child’s suffering! Jesus appeared!
Jesus said to him,
if you can, all things are possible for one who believes.
This father, with years of pain & stress, collapsed! He could only cry out in anguish and pain,
I believe; help my unbelief!
The child’s father is an unsung hero! He loves his son dearly!
He saw his son suffering and being oppressed by demons from childhood. He couldn’t talk to him normally. Do you understand how painful he was? But nevertheless, he did not give up for many years. He did not hide the child, nor was he afraid of what others thought of him and the child. He still insisted on bringing the child to the disciples, and he brought his pains to Jesus!
Perhaps when he heard Jesus say to him, “all things are possible for one who believes,” his heart was actually very discouraged! Who can he trust? Doctors, scribes, disciples, none of them could heal his son! Lord Jesus, if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us!
Jesus said,
This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.
In this story, the child was healed, and the unclean spirit was cast out. Whose prayer did it?
There was only one man who prayed in this story. When he asked the disciples or scribes for help, the unclean spirit still could not be cast out. But when he asked Jesus, the unclean spirit was cast out! Do you know how many years he fasted and prayed for his child? Until he found Jesus and brought his pain, discouragement, and weakness to the Lord, he sincerely asked the Lord for help! As a result, the Lord cast out unclean spirits for him!
When we grow old, we begin to accept “fate,” accepting the disappointment in life, broken relationships, and past failures! The deeper the love might just result in more pain. Do you still have faith? “IF YOU CAN !?
The Lord knows that our faith is small, but when we earnestly fast and pray, we bring it to the Lord and ask the Lord for help! Behold the Lord, your broken heart will see, the Lord will hear prayers and heal! ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR ONE WHO BELIEVES!
It is because we believe what Jesus says.
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