Together in God’s Word 02/27/11 • Reflections from the One Year Bible / by Stanley A. Parker
Mark 9:22-24 (ESV)
[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!”
Isn’t it interesting how quickly we assume that the problem is on God’s side of the equation?
Things aren’t happening so…
God must not know, so I had better tell Him.
God must not care, so I better beg Him.
God must not understand, so I better instruct Him.
And if none of that works, God must not be trustworthy; I will reject Him.
This man questions Jesus’ ability.
Jesus redirects his thinking.
The issue isn’t Jesus’ willingness or ability!
The issue is his own faith that was the hindrance to healing.
The sweet thing is, when the man got honest with his own issue, it didn’t take perfection to get Jesus to act!
Jesus was willing to go even beyond His own responsibility and fill in the gap of what was lacking on the man’s part!
“I believe; help my unbelief!”
