Today we are reading from Mark 9: 14-29:

14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” 19 He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” 26 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 was able to stand. 28 When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.”

Of all the people in the Bible, the father is in this passage is one of the ones that I really identify with the most.  His son is sick, in desperate need in of help that only Jesus can provide.  Only Jesus can fix what plagues his son.  This is not medical, this is spiritual.  No doctor, no one can help in this but Jesus. 

He has Jesus to help if He can.  Jesus says all can help for the one who believes. This father cries out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”  

That line right there, I do believe!  I know that Jesus is Lord, God, Savior.  I do believe!  I know, I hope, I trust! 

Help my unbelief.  But yet I doubt. I worry. I am afraid. I am weak. I know that Jesus can do it. I do, I do.  Only He has the words of life.  He is way, the truth, the life.  I believe!  But help my unbelief.  

Man, I get that on a deep level. That is me, so often in my life.  That is where I find myself so often.  And what is so encouraging about this story is notice what Jesus did not do.  He did not berate Him.  He did not cast him out.  He loved him and healed his son.  His doubt was not a barrier for Jesus. 

Because Jesus loved him. 

As He loves me, and you, right now.  I believe; help my unbelief.  May we find the grace of God, always sufficient.  

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