South's SOAP for the Day
S-Read Mark 9:14-29.
O-Everything is possible for one who believes.
A-How often are you doubtful or cautious in your prayers and actions?
P-Pray that God helps you in your disbelief.
Our passage today is about a boy who has been possessed by an evil spirit. He has had this spirit since he was young. The boy's father has brought him to Jesus. Unfortunately, Jesus is not there. The next best thing in the man's mind is those who follow Jesus--the disciples. He brings the boy to them in hopes that they can cast out the spirit. Yet, they cannot do it. Their inability causes a bit of a scene. Picture it. There are the disciples, minus Mathew, James, and John, huddled together arguing with the teachers of the law about why they can't heal the boy. One would assume that this argument is about power. Maybe the teachers are claiming that Jesus really is of the evil world since his disciples don't have his power. Do you think one of the disciples responded back, "You don't have the power either!"
My mind also shifts to the father. He has come, in hope and faith, to find Jesus. He has heard of the mighty things that Jesus can do. Yet, he couldn't find Jesus. All he found were his disciples. When they tried to heal his son, they couldn't do it. Then the fight broke out. All the attention that he wanted is gone. A crowd is gathering in all the commotion, and his son is not healed. It is certainly not the way the man probably envisioned the day playing out.
All of the attention shifts to Jesus as he and his three disciples return from the mountain. They walk up on the scene and immediately become the center of attention. Mark tells us that the crowd was "overwhelmed with wonder". The one with real power is here now.
Rather than addressing the the man and his son or the crowd, Jesus' first question is to his disciples. "What are you arguing with them about? I wonder what tone Jesus has? Is it one of frustration or is he simply being inquisitive to find out what's going on? The disciples track record with not fully understanding everything makes me figure it was more frustration than anything.
The boy's father tells Jesus what is going on. I wonder if he simply spoke up quickly after the question, not giving anyone else the opportunity to say what's going on with his haste. Did the disciples try to answer Jesus question quickly, or did they stand there silent? Irregardless, the boy's father give Jesus the play by play, remembering to point out that the disciples were not able to heal his son.
Jesus responds to what the man says with some frustration, “You unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” There is frustration with the unbelief that is amidst the people in the crowd. Some scholars remind us that Jesus encountered this type of unbelief earlier in his home town, Nazareth. On the flip side, Mark has told us many times about the faith that miracle seekers have as they come to Jesus with their specific needs. Scholars also hint that the "how long" isn't a wish for Jesus to be rid of the faithless. Rather, they believe it is Jesus responding to the reality that is in front of him--that his time is short. There is so much to teach his disciples.
Jesus has them bring the boy to him. He asks the father about how long the demon has been haunting the boy. The father responds with the answer and some more detail of how the spirit has afflicted him. He then adds, "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
Has the father, in the heat of the situation, lost faith that Jesus can help? Or, is he simply exasperated with the situation? If you listen carefully, I think you can hear the desperation in his voice, especially following the comment, "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him."
"If you can?" Jesus responds. Part of me feels like Jesus is on edge here. His response to the man has the same frustrated tone that has been in his voice the whole way through this passage. I wonder if the reality of the cross is on his mind here. He's just met on the mountainside with Elijah and Moses. He has shared the plan with his disciples. He knows his time is drawing short. Yet, the good news is falling on less than fertile soil at times. Jesus assures the boys father that everything is possible for one who believes.
The father responds with one of the most frank and honest statements I think you can find in Scripture. "I believe, help me in my unbelief!" There isn't that much to unpack there. I believe, yet I still doubt. Show me the way, Jesus. Show me what belief fully looks like.
At this point, enough time has passed that even more people are coming to the scene. Jesus sees the people coming and quickly deals with the spirit. There is haste, it seems, to do the miracle before there is an even larger crowd. Yet, when all is said and done, Jesus doesn't give his normal request to keep the miracle on the down low. Mark doesn't give us any insight either, in that regard. What he does tell us is that Jesus speaks directly to the spirit with commands and it obeys--even without Jesus touching the boy. As it exits it leaves the boy lifeless.
Someone in the crowd proclaims that the boy is dead. We don't really know. It doesn't matter, Jesus has the power to deal with that also. He takes the boy by the hand, the physical touch that is so often mentioned by Mark, and helps him up. Scholars are quick to note that Mark is using resurrection language here, the same language used when Jesus raises Jairus' daughter from the dead. Probably the same language he will use in a few chapters when Jesus overcomes death.
Our story closes with the disciples asking Jesus why they couldn't heal the boy. With all the frustration that Jesus has had throughout the passage, one would think that there would be a longer corrective discussion here. Nope, not this time. Jesus simply responds, "This kind can only come out by prayer."
We must observe here, the prayer that Jesus is referencing here isn't a prayer said for God to heal the boy. Rather, its a daily, moment by moment connection/conversation with the Father. We know this. We've seen Jesus away in quiet places praying all throughout the gospels. The power of prayer here can be translated into a continual connection with the God above about the good news. Its a continual connection and feeding. Its not directed at specific situations or people, in my opinion. I believe its a continual conversation with God concerning the growth and proliferation of the Gospel. Its outward prayers that are about sharing hope, peace, and love. Its not self serving.
How are we praying as a church? Are we crying out to God about those who live around our church who don't have any idea about what the good news is? Are we praying for our people to have boldness to share their faith with someone they know? Or are our prayers more self serving?
Lord, help us to have the boldness to pray crazy things for the Kingdom. Give us boldness. Give us tenacity. Wow us with how you respond. Help us to expect to be wowed by you!
My mind also shifts to the father. He has come, in hope and faith, to find Jesus. He has heard of the mighty things that Jesus can do. Yet, he couldn't find Jesus. All he found were his disciples. When they tried to heal his son, they couldn't do it. Then the fight broke out. All the attention that he wanted is gone. A crowd is gathering in all the commotion, and his son is not healed. It is certainly not the way the man probably envisioned the day playing out.
All of the attention shifts to Jesus as he and his three disciples return from the mountain. They walk up on the scene and immediately become the center of attention. Mark tells us that the crowd was "overwhelmed with wonder". The one with real power is here now.
Rather than addressing the the man and his son or the crowd, Jesus' first question is to his disciples. "What are you arguing with them about? I wonder what tone Jesus has? Is it one of frustration or is he simply being inquisitive to find out what's going on? The disciples track record with not fully understanding everything makes me figure it was more frustration than anything.
The boy's father tells Jesus what is going on. I wonder if he simply spoke up quickly after the question, not giving anyone else the opportunity to say what's going on with his haste. Did the disciples try to answer Jesus question quickly, or did they stand there silent? Irregardless, the boy's father give Jesus the play by play, remembering to point out that the disciples were not able to heal his son.
Jesus responds to what the man says with some frustration, “You unbelieving generation, how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” There is frustration with the unbelief that is amidst the people in the crowd. Some scholars remind us that Jesus encountered this type of unbelief earlier in his home town, Nazareth. On the flip side, Mark has told us many times about the faith that miracle seekers have as they come to Jesus with their specific needs. Scholars also hint that the "how long" isn't a wish for Jesus to be rid of the faithless. Rather, they believe it is Jesus responding to the reality that is in front of him--that his time is short. There is so much to teach his disciples.
Jesus has them bring the boy to him. He asks the father about how long the demon has been haunting the boy. The father responds with the answer and some more detail of how the spirit has afflicted him. He then adds, "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
Has the father, in the heat of the situation, lost faith that Jesus can help? Or, is he simply exasperated with the situation? If you listen carefully, I think you can hear the desperation in his voice, especially following the comment, "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him."
"If you can?" Jesus responds. Part of me feels like Jesus is on edge here. His response to the man has the same frustrated tone that has been in his voice the whole way through this passage. I wonder if the reality of the cross is on his mind here. He's just met on the mountainside with Elijah and Moses. He has shared the plan with his disciples. He knows his time is drawing short. Yet, the good news is falling on less than fertile soil at times. Jesus assures the boys father that everything is possible for one who believes.
The father responds with one of the most frank and honest statements I think you can find in Scripture. "I believe, help me in my unbelief!" There isn't that much to unpack there. I believe, yet I still doubt. Show me the way, Jesus. Show me what belief fully looks like.
At this point, enough time has passed that even more people are coming to the scene. Jesus sees the people coming and quickly deals with the spirit. There is haste, it seems, to do the miracle before there is an even larger crowd. Yet, when all is said and done, Jesus doesn't give his normal request to keep the miracle on the down low. Mark doesn't give us any insight either, in that regard. What he does tell us is that Jesus speaks directly to the spirit with commands and it obeys--even without Jesus touching the boy. As it exits it leaves the boy lifeless.
Someone in the crowd proclaims that the boy is dead. We don't really know. It doesn't matter, Jesus has the power to deal with that also. He takes the boy by the hand, the physical touch that is so often mentioned by Mark, and helps him up. Scholars are quick to note that Mark is using resurrection language here, the same language used when Jesus raises Jairus' daughter from the dead. Probably the same language he will use in a few chapters when Jesus overcomes death.
Our story closes with the disciples asking Jesus why they couldn't heal the boy. With all the frustration that Jesus has had throughout the passage, one would think that there would be a longer corrective discussion here. Nope, not this time. Jesus simply responds, "This kind can only come out by prayer."
We must observe here, the prayer that Jesus is referencing here isn't a prayer said for God to heal the boy. Rather, its a daily, moment by moment connection/conversation with the Father. We know this. We've seen Jesus away in quiet places praying all throughout the gospels. The power of prayer here can be translated into a continual connection with the God above about the good news. Its a continual connection and feeding. Its not directed at specific situations or people, in my opinion. I believe its a continual conversation with God concerning the growth and proliferation of the Gospel. Its outward prayers that are about sharing hope, peace, and love. Its not self serving.
How are we praying as a church? Are we crying out to God about those who live around our church who don't have any idea about what the good news is? Are we praying for our people to have boldness to share their faith with someone they know? Or are our prayers more self serving?
Lord, help us to have the boldness to pray crazy things for the Kingdom. Give us boldness. Give us tenacity. Wow us with how you respond. Help us to expect to be wowed by you!
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