“O unbelieving
generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I
put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.” Mark 9:19
When Jesus
returned from the Mount of Transfiguration, he became exasperated with the
people. He spoke with exaggeration and frustration. His words, “this generation,”
referred to the people of that age. Jesus said that generation would never
believe in him.
“How long must
I be with you for you to have faith in me? No matter how much I prove myself or
how long I stay with you, you will never believe. Lest the boy never experience
freedom from his torment because you do not believe in me, bring him to me. I care
about him because of his torment and because your faith will never be enough to
lead to his healing.” This was the spoken and unspoken meaning of Jesus’ words.
The amazing
thing in verse twenty is the contrast between the beings—human and spirit. In
both Mark’s and Luke’s recording of this event, even before Jesus spoke, the
demon thrashed the boy to the ground. The demon recognized Jesus as being the
Son of God, who has authority and power to command and control him. The demon's
belief about Jesus contrasts with the generation's lack of faith in Him.
In verse twenty-two,
the boy’s father’s words to Jesus showed the lack of faith by that generation
of people. He said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion for us
and help us.” A desperate father grasping for the last straw, the least
possibility in his mind, for his son to have freedom from the evil spirit. This
man may have exhausted his funds to see every doctor, the priest, and spiritual
medium. Another chance for his son’s healing walked into town. This father heard
whispers of a man named Jesus. He sought those who could direct him to Jesus,
but he found only his disciples. With a loud sigh and deflation of hope, the
father may have despaired. Then Jesus walked up to the clamorous crowd. The
father’s hope rose. His eyes opened wider, and he sought Jesus’ attention. This
father said to Jesus, “If you can, help us...”
Jesus’
response? Incredulity. Spoken and unspoken, Jesus said and may have felt, “How
long must I keep showing miracles for these people to believe and be in a right
relationship with God? Forever will not be enough time. They have hardened
their hearts against me as the Messiah. They must choose to open their hearts
and choose to believe in me. Anything is possible to him who believes!”
The boy’s father
heard Jesus’ incredulity and exasperation. His hope increased, and he wanted to
trust in Jesus. Jesus was the father’s last hope. The man acknowledged his
small faith, yet desired belief. He was desperate for his son to be freed from the demon. The father said,
“I do believe. Help my unbelief.”
Jesus rebuked
the demon and demanded it leave the boy and never re-enter him.
Jesus clarified
to the disciples that only prayer can expel such entities.
Jewish scribes
argued with the nine disciples who didn't go with Jesus to the mountain. Nothing
written in the Bible states these nine disciples had been communing with God. Instead,
they stayed in town and became distracted by argumentative people. The
disciples focused on defending against the scribes, not on the source of
healing and wholeness.
The father,
desperate and grasping at his last hope, wanted to believe. His cry, “Help my
unbelief,” was his crying out to God for faith, who gives faith to all who ask
of him. This father was praying. He recognized Jesus as his only hope and
begged God to give him faith.
Jesus said,
“This kind can only come out by prayer” (Mark 9:29). The father’s recognition
of his own lack of faith led to his desperate cry of wanting faith. God gave
him faith to believe in Jesus. God gave faith to the father when he opened his
heart to him.
That day, Jesus
did more than cast out a demon and make a boy well. He provided faith and hope
to a man who had given up hope. This father and son met and experienced Jesus,
the divine Son of God and Messiah. The disciples grew in their knowledge of,
understanding of, and faith in Jesus. Mark omitted the scribes’ and crowd's
faith in his gospel account. In his view, the crowd merely watched and
listened.
Today, we each
are part of one of these three groups: a growing disciple of Jesus, a desperate
seeker of hope and faith, or a hardened and combative person.
Will you choose to grow in discipleship with
Jesus?
Will you cry out to God to give you
faith to believe?
Will you harden your heart more against
Jesus and the salvation he offers to you each day?
It’s your choice.
God will never force you to accept him or His forgiveness, salvation, and
eternal life in his kingdom.
