EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR HIM WHO BELIEVES

Mark 9:14-29 / Keywords 9:23

" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

 14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.[a]”

Footnotes

a. Mark 9:29 Some manuscripts prayer and fasting

1. When Jesus came down the mountain, there was a chaotic scene of his disciples arguing with the teachers of the law. Jesus asked, “What’s going on?” A father shared the tragic situation of his son being possessed by an evil spirit that robbed him of his speech and threw him into seizures. He asked Jesus’ disciples to cast out the demon, but they could not. Jesus said the problem was an attitude of unbelief and he told them to bring the boy to him.

 

2. Jesus inquired how long had the son been this way, and the father reported since boyhood and shared how the demon even tried to kill the boy. Then he despaired, wondering if Jesus could help him. Jesus rebuked his unbelief and promised him – and us – that everything is possible for one who believes. Then, the father repented and confessed, “I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief.” The real problem is that we need to confess our faith, repent our unbelief, and cry out to Jesus.

 

3. Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and he left the son. When the disciples asked why they couldn’t cast out the spirit, Jesus explained this kind can only come out by prayer.

 

Prayer Lord, help me overcome my unbelief. Help me to pray for young people and believe you can heal them.

One Word Pray and believe everything is possible