Torridge Coastal Mission Community

Reflection from Rev Alison Roberts

Mark 9.14-29

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. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

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.

The text describes how the disciples, who were doing so well at the beginning of their ministry fail to be able to heal a young boy who has been brought to them by his father suffering from serve epilepsy. No matter how hard the disciples tried, they couldn’t get the ‘demon’ to come out from the young boy.

The Father makes a desperate plea to Jesus by describing his son’s ailment and the disciple’s failed attempt. Maybe not unsurprisingly after the disciple’s inability to heal his son ,the Father now begins to question and doubt that Jesus could help his son at all. Jesus quickly responds, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” But it’s the Father’s response of raw honesty, that always blows me away; “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” How many times a day do I/we fail to believe? How many times a day do I/ we fail to mirror the hope of Christ? How many times a day do I/we add more stories of our personal failings to our lifelong collection?

But in the passage the sheer desperation of a Father illuminates what is etched on his heart and in truth aren’t there are times in our own life when we experience sorrow, disappointment, anxiety or grief, rage even. Times when it’s hard to believe. Moments when we easily feel exhausted, small, insignificant and that we can’t possibly make a difference to our families, communities or the world’s angsts; when our disbelief can worm its way into our hearts. And let’s be honest there’s a lot of ‘stuff’ to worm into our hearts at the moment!

By speaking and acknowledging his ‘disbelief’ the Father spoke up for us all, for the times when we find ourselves marooned between faith and doubt. And in our present fragile anxious world whilst many of us have faith, lots of faith; hope can feel more ‘essence of naivety’ than authentic and plausible. Let’s us pray to identify our disbeliefs from our beliefs. Let us pray that we won’t avoid or shy away from our doubts or the stories we carry with us in our very beings marked as ‘hopelessness’, but inspired by the Fathers courage, to pray intensely right into the very heart of our disbeliefs.

PRAYER

In this moment draw me to yourself, Lord, and make me aware not so much of what I've given as of all I have received and so have yet to share. Send me forth in power and gladness and with great courage to live out in the world what I pray and profess, that, in sharing, I may do justice make peace, grow in love, enjoy myself, other people, and your world now, and you forever. Amen

Draw Me To Yourself by Ted Loder

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