Help My Unbelief

Westhill Community Church

Sunday 23^rd January 2022

Help My Unbelief

Reading: Mark 9: 14-29

Mark’s account that we have read together is unusual in that a significant part of the drama occurred before we are brought on the scene, indeed before Jesus and his leading disciples arrived on the scene. Jesus, Peter, James and John had climbed a nearby mountain, and there the three apostles had witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus. We are not told what the situation was when they left the other disciples for this trip, and whether any crowds were present at the time. We do know, however, that by the time they had returned a large crowd had gathered, including teachers of the law spoiling for an argument, some others perhaps hoping for entertainment, and yet others desperate to experience healing at the hand of Jesus. And I think we can be very sure that 95% of the crowd had not turned up to see 9 ordinary disciples do their thing. It wasn’t the 9 disciples that attracted the crowd; it was Jesus. And there is a lesson there for us, as we consider what kind of church we should be, what kind of face we should present to the community, how indeed we can encourage others from the community to meet with us. Even if we don’t articulate it we will be thinking, “What can we do to make ourselves attractive?” And the answer can and must only be that we show this community by our faith, love and hope, that if they meet with us in this place they will encounter Jesus. At the very heart of our reading Jesus spoke these five revealing words: “Bring the boy to me!” Other things may have their place – powerful preaching, strong leadership, vibrant worship, loving fellowship – but if at the heart of all this people do not encounter the living Jesus then it is all for nothing.

So, in this story the nine disciples were trying to cope whilst Jesus and the leading apostles were away. Now it is to their credit that they did not shrink from seeking to heal this troubled boy. In actual fact they had spent much time already, without Jesus physically present, successfully healing the sick and driving our evil spirits (Mar 6: 7-13). So why should they be hesitant in this situation. I am quite sure that they proceeded enthusiastically and expectantly. But then it seems doubts began to fill their minds. The boy wasn’t responding as they expected. Their healing ministry didn’t seem to be working. I wonder when the first of them suggested that it might be best to wait for Jesus to return before taking any further action. We don’t know how or when it happened, but at some point they just gave up. They stopped praying for the boy, and got caught up instead arguing with the teachers of the law, perhaps about the theology of exorcisms and the appropriate liturgies to use. Meanwhile the boy sat nearby bemused and his dad was beside himself with frustration.

It was at this point Jesus and the other apostles returned. “What are you arguing about?” Jesus asked the nine disciples. No answer. Each of them looking at another or at his own feet. You see, sometimes the most innocent question can expose the folly of our situation. Jesus question wasn’t, “What are you praying for?” but, “What are you arguing about?” For some of us something like this happened as we watched the news this week. Some of the channels have been showing the current terrible effects circumstances in Afghanistan are having on family life, as the most innocent and the most vulnerable are suffering and dying without hope. And as we watch the tragedy we ask ourselves “Why, oh why, are we so quick to be caught up with relatively trivial things, when out there such terrible suffering continues unabated and needing such urgent attention.

So the disciples didn’t answer Jesus, perhaps too embarrassed, and it was left eventually to the man himself to explain his request for healing for his son. And then, I think, comes a real surprise. Jesus’ response was a strong rebuke:, “You unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” You can almost feel his exasperation, not with the man or his son, I am sure, but with those he was teaching and leading. What was it that caused this outburst? It was unbelief; the fact that in spite of all he had taught them, revealed to them and demonstrated to them it was unbelief rather than faith that dominated the disciple’s decisions. And this begs the question, does anything exasperate Jesus about us? Does he say to us, “This generation, how long shall I put up with this or that?”

Although I don’t think Jesus’ exasperation was over the man’s unbelief, he certainly did not escape without some rebuke. But it was a mild rebuke that was designed to build and strengthen faith, and the result was a cry from the man’s heart that every single one of us can empathise with. Let’s look again at their conversation.

If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’ ‘“If you can”?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’ (Mark 9: 22-24)

The man had revealed a degree of faith by bringing his son to the disciples in the first place. But he had watched as they had tried and failed to heal him. Now he was wondering whether Jesus himself would be any more successful. Even so, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” seems like a great prayer to me. How often do we pray in a similar way?

“If you can?” replied Jesus. And then he proceeded to make a claim that his followers over the generations have consistently struggled to come to terms with. He didn’t say, “I am God’s anointed one, everything is possible for me.” He didn’t say, “All authority has been given unto me, so don’t entertain any doubts.” We wouldn’t have any problem with such statements, would we? What he did say was, “Everything is possible for the one who believes.” You, caring father, so troubled and full of anxiety for your son, nothing is impossible for you if you ask and believe.

Now just in case you wonder whether I am twisting Jesus words into a meaning he did not intend, this was not an off-the-cuff remark that doesn’t fit with his mainstream teaching. This was teaching he taught and emphasised again and again to his disciples.

It was Jesus who said, “You will say to this mountain move and it will move; nothing will be impossible to you.” (Matt 17: 20).

It was Jesus who said, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt 7: 9-11).

It was Jesus who said, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14: 13-14); and again, “Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name … ask and you will receive.” (John 16: 23,24)

It was Jesus who said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11: 24).

The apostle James summarised the teaching of Jesus in this way: “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. (James 5:14,15). Consider that last phrase. If perchance ill health has come on account of foolish actions, or wayward choices, or deliberate disobedience, or falling short in any way, the prayer of faith will not only heal the sickness but also lead the way for the individual to receive forgiveness and cleansing. According to James this is part and parcel of normal, everyday church life.

Now what was it that so exasperated Jesus when he encountered this situation. Firstly I believe it was that the disciples had stopped praying for the boy; the conclusion seems to have been “we cannot heal him.” That certainly was the understanding gained by the boy’s father. And, linked to this, was Jesus’ final comment that they hadn’t been prepared to give the necessary time to prayer - time praying for the boy, but perhaps also time previously spent in communion with God their Father.

So I invite each one of us to ask ourselves these questions. Have there been occasions when I have stopped praying for someone or something that I have brought to God in prayer, having come to the conclusion that my prayers are having no effect? Am I prepared to bring a matter repeatedly before God’s throne in prayer until I see a breakthrough, no matter how long it takes? Do I devote the time to be in God’s presence, even as our Saviour Jesus taught us by example, to ensure that I have complete confidence that the things I ask for in prayer are those things that He is pleased with? Now hear what I am saying here. I am not saying that we must find out what God wants us to pray for and then pray for that. Jesus said that it is the things that are on our heart that we can bring in prayer and be assured that he will answer. God loves to respond to our desires.

Our nearest grandson will often visit us, and when he does at some point he will inevitably rush over to the book store, grab a book and cry out “Dack, dack.” Dack is apparently the first word that babies learn nowadays. It means variously “What’s that?” “Read that,” “Get me that,” “Show me that,” depending on the circumstances. Now I suppose I would be happy if he were to bring all the books over to me and invite me to select my choice. But I have to say that I have far greater joy when he grabs the book of his choice and plants it on my lap. I know which one it will be. I’ve already read it fourteen times in the last hour or so, and over one hundred times in the past week, but it is simply wonderful when he feels confident enough to make his own choice and bring that to me.

As Jesus said, if we being evil can so respond to our children (or grandchildren) how much more will our Father in heaven delight to respond to us. He loves to respond to our requests, the things that are on our hearts. And yes, we need to conform to his will, and that is why I say that we must learn to spend time in his presence understanding what pleases him and what is on his heart. The more we do this so the more will we be inclined to ask for things he approves of.

The afflicted boy’s father did not have much faith. He was concerned that perhaps Jesus did not have sufficient authority to heal his boy. I don’t think most of us are in that place, but I wonder whether Jesus is sometimes exasperated with our prayers to him. For we sometimes say, “Lord if you are willing take pity on us and help us.” And then if we do not see the outcome we have prayed for we sometimes conclude that it was not God’s will in the first place.

Now Jesus taught us clearly to seek God’s will in prayer. That is not in doubt. The question actually is, when we ask God for what is on our heart, particularly for healing for another, could it be that such healing is not his will? That his will and intention is that the person concerned should continue to suffer the affliction?

I think it is clear from Scripture that God does indeed visit disease and sickness on people, to accomplish his purposes. Miriam, Moses sister, was afflicted for a short time with leprosy. Job, the ancient patriarch, was afflicted with disease by Satan with God’s permission. The people of Israel suffered snakebite in the desert after rebelling against God. This last example teaches us something wonderful about God’s mercy accompanying his judgement, for all who were bitten who looked upon the brass serpent on the pole were healed.

The question is not whether sickness can come as a consequence of God’s judgement for sin; the question is, if this is the case will God say “no” when we ask for healing? There are two main reasons why I believe the answer is emphatically “No!” The first comes from the example of Jesus’ healing ministry. He healed all who came to him, regardless of the cause of their affliction. As in our reading today he taught people to believe that if they asked they would be healed. The second reason comes from the passage in James 5 we have already referred to. Yes, sickness may arise as a consequence of sin. But the prayer of faith will not only heal such cases but also open the door for the sin itself to be forgiven and cleansed.

So I would encourage us to take on board some of the lessons contained in this passage as we enter the unknown and face the challenges of the year before us.

Firstly, let us determine to develop a deep understanding of the heart of our heavenly Father, particularly regarding His responses to our prayers. This can only come by spending time in his presence. As Jesus regularly spent time in prayer and communion with his Father, let us determine to do likewise.

Secondly, as we pray for those things that we know are according to God’s heart and purpose, let us determine to never give up, but rather to increase our prayers the longer it takes, if necessary bringing others alongside us to besiege the throne of grace. Jesus told the story of the widow who refused to give up, insisting that the unjust judge must respond to her case. His message was clear: have the attitude that what you are praying for is going to happen no matter what, and you are not going to cease praying until your request is granted.

Thirdly, let us recognise that like those disciples of old we live in the midst of an unbelieving generation, and oftentimes that unbelief rubs off on us too. Let this prayer of the father of the afflicted boy be in our hearts and on our lips too: “Lord I believe – help me overcome my unbelief.”