Mark 9: 22b-29…..He’s dead!

But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 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.” 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.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Comment: There are several interesting phrases to think about in this brief passage!

• ‘If you can!’ – Said to the God-man Jesus. Of course you can’t blame the father for saying it, but it is so important for us to learn Who He Is – the Great “I AM”.
• ‘I believe; help my unbelief!‘ After years as a follower of Jesus, I still make this the cry from my heart.
• ‘He is dead‘. Well he wasn’t but the kid/young man was shattered by the life changing event which had just occurred in his life. Often a new relationship with Jesus means a whole change in thinking, feeling and acting. After all Jesus described it as a ‘new birth!’
• ‘Why could we not cast it out?‘ We all need to learn that the power to serve God comes from Him and our right relationship with Him.

Prayer: Help me to to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with You my God.