Only Believe!

²³ “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” ²⁴ The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24 (NLT)

When Jesus and His three disciples (Peter, James, and John) returned from the mountain, they saw a large crowd surrounding the nine remaining disciples at the foot of the mountain (Mark 9:14; see also Matthew 17:14; Luke 9:37). Some Jewish teachers of the religious law (scribes) were arguing with Jesus’ disciples (Mark 9:14). When the crowd saw Jesus, the crowd was overwhelmed with awe and wonder, and they immediately ran to greet Him (Mark 9:15). Jesus asked the crowd, “What is all this arguing about?” (Mark 9:16, NLT). As always, Jesus stepped in to solve the problem.

One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said to Jesus, “Teacher, I brought my son so You could heal him” (Mark 9:17, NLT). The father further explained to Jesus that an evil (unclean, demon) spirit possessed his son and robbed him of both speech and hearing (Mark 9:17, 25). According to Mark’s Gospel, the boy was both deaf and unable to speak (Mark 9:17, 25), and the evil (unclean) spirit was doing his best to destroy the father’s only son (Luke 9:38). Here was another “only child” needing the help of the Lord Jesus Christ (see also Luke 7:12; Luke 8:42). According to Matthew’s Gospel, the boy was an epileptic (lunatic), very ill, and suicidal, falling into the fire and the water (see Matthew 17:15). Luke’s Gospel said that the boy would scream as he went into these convulsions (see Luke 9: 39). While some of the boy’s symptoms can have natural causes, the Gospels agree that this boy was at the mercy of a demon as a demoniac possession was responsible for the boy’s condition (Mark 9:20, 25-26). Whenever this evil (demon, unclean) spirit seized the boy, the spirit threw him violently to the ground (Mark 9:18; Luke 9:39). The boy would foam at the mouth, grind his teeth, and become rigid (Mark 9:18; Luke 9:39).

The father told Jesus that he had His disciples to cast out the evil (unclean) spirit, but they could not remove the unclean (evil) spirit from his son (Mark 9:18; see also Matthew 17:16; Luke 9:40). In other words, the disciples were powerlessness! Previously, Jesus had given His disciples authoritative power to cast out demons (unclean, evil spirits) and power to preach, teach, and heal (e.g., see Matthew 10:1, 8; Mark 3:14-15; Mark 6:7, 12-13; Luke 9:1-6). However, the disciples were struggling to heal the boy, and their ministry to the boy was ineffective and fruitless. Jesus’ disciples failed to use the spiritual resources He had graciously given them!

Then, Jesus became anger with His disciples and said, “You faithless (unbelieving) people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” (Mark 9:19, NLT; see also Matthew 17:17; Luke 9:41). So, the crowd brought the suffering boy to Jesus (Mark 9:20). When the evil (unclean) spirit saw Jesus, the spirit threw the boy into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth (Mark 9:20; see also Mark 1:26). Then Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening?” (Mark 9:21, NLT). The father told Jesus that his son had been experiencing these episodes since he was a little boy (Mark 9:21). The spirit often threw the boy into the fire or water, trying to kill him (Mark 9:22; see also Matthew 17:15).

Next, the desperate father said to Jesus, “Have mercy on us and help us, if You can.” (Mark 9:22, NLT). Jesus said the father, “What do you mean, ‘If I can’? . . Anything is possible if a person believes (have faith).” (Mark 9:23; see also Matthew 21:21; Mark 11:23; John 11:40). Since Jesus’ disciples had failed to heal his son, the desperate father was not even sure that Jesus could succeed; hence his statement, “If You can do anything” (Mark 9:22, NASB). Then, the father immediately cried out to Jesus, “I do believe (have faith), but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24, NLT). The desperate father was honest enough to admit his unbelief and cried for help for his weak faith.

¹⁸ Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well. Matthew 17:18 (NLT)

When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, He rebuked the evil spirit and said, “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak. . . . I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” (Mark 9:25, NLT; see also Matthew 17:18). Then, the unclean (demon) spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion (Mark 9:26; see also Luke 9:42). However, Jesus rebuked the evil (unclean) spirit and healed the boy (Mark 9:26; see also Matthew 17:18; Luke 9:42). Jesus is STRONGER than any evil (unclean, demon) spirit (Mark 9:25; see also Mark 1:23-27; Mark 5:7-8). Then, Jesus gave the boy back to his father. At first, the boy appeared to be dead, and a murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” (Mark 9:26). But, Jesus took the boy by the hand and helped him to his feet, and the boy stood up (Mark 9:27). Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power through Jesus (Luke 9:43).

²⁹ Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” Mark 9:29 (NLT)

Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with His disciples, they asked Him, “Why we could not we cast out that evil (unclean) spirit?” (Mark 9:28, NLT; see also Matthew 17:19). Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.” (Mark 9:29, NLT; see also Matthew 17:20-21). Some translations say, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29, NKJV; see also Matthew 17:20-21). In a cryptic statement, Jesus said His disciples were not hungry enough yet, and they had not emptied (surrendered) themselves to God. Discipleship is total self-abandonment and total reliance upon God and His Holy Spirit (see also Zechariah 4:6; John 6:63). Nevertheless after Jesus’ death and resurrection, Jesus’ disciples emptied (surrendered) themselves to God with total self-abandonment and total reliance upon God and His Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts is essentially Jesus’ disciples relying upon God and His Holy Spirit to continue Jesus’ good ministry of casting out demons (unclean, evil spirits), preaching, teaching, and healing (e.g., see Acts 3:6-7; Acts 4:28-31; Acts 5:12-16; Acts 28:8-9). Our ministry comes only through our faith God, His Son – Jesus Christ, and God’s powerful Holy Spirit and not through our self-efforts. Until Jesus’ disciples lived a life of total self-abandonment and surrender to God and God’s Holy Spirit, they were ineffective and powerless.

¹⁹ Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” ²⁰ “You do not have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:19-20 (NLT)

The implications of the story were the disciples enjoyed the selfish glory of casting out demons, healing, and teaching. But here, the disciples failed publically and were embarrassed by their failure and little faith in God’s power. In this scene, there is a picture of the disciples struggling to follow Jesus and struggling to be a disciple. As Jesus’ disciples, we need to come to the point of self-abandonment and surrender to God and God’s will. The point of self-abandonment occurs when one abandons self-interests, self-efforts, and self-reliance for God’s team, God’s will, and God’s glory.

Jesus’ teaching on prayer and faith here does not mean we can automatically obtain anything we want if we just think positively. Jesus meant that anything is possible if we have faith (belief) in God, because NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR GOD (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17, 27). The true and living God is all-powerful (omnipotent) and is always faithful in fulfilling His promises (Romans 4:18-21). With prayer, the Holy Scriptures demand an attitude of trust, confidence, and dependence in our all-powerful (omnipotent) and sovereign God (Hebrews 11:1, 6). Our prayer and faith in God are the keys that unlock miracles and victory in our lives (Hebrews 10:35, 38-39). There is no substitute for prayer and faith especially in impossible circumstances (Matthew 17:14-21). Faith in God makes all things possible (Genesis 18:14; Job 42:2; Jeremiah 32:27; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Romans 4:21) and overcomes the enemy (Mark 9:19, 23-24; see also Matthew 17:20).

²² Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. ²³ I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. ²⁴ I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. ²⁵ But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” Mark 11:22-25 (NLT)

God is not hard of hearing, and we do not have to keep telling God repeatedly our prayers. Our persistent of prayer is for our benefits. As we are persistent with God in prayer, God graciously clarifies our prayers according to His will and purposes (Matthew 6:10; James 4:3; 1 John 5:14). When we pray, we should express our desires, but we must pray with God’s interests, will, and way above our desires (Mark 14:36). Growing in faith is a constant process of daily and patiently renewing our trust and confidence in God to handle any difficult situation and trial. Our prayer and faith in God is the path to power and NOT our ability or self-reliance! Lack of faith limits God’s people and spiritual power. The Holy Scriptures are not promoting laziness (e.g. see Proverbs 10:4; Proverbs 12:24, 27; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 11), but reliance and faith (trust) on God first (Matthew 6:33)! A person who truly believes will set no limits on God’s power!

¹² I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13 (NLT)

References

Disciple's Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 1988).

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Ryrie Study Bible (Chicago, IL: Moody, 1995).

The Apologetics Study Bible: Understanding Why You Believe (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Loyd, Melton, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament (Due West, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).