Possible with Prayer

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK

POSSIBLE WITH PRAYER

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 "O 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. "Everything is possible for him who believes."  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 evil 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." 

NIV

This is a large narrative, but it is complete and it would not be right to break it down into little sections. There is a singular truth and that is about belief. When Jesus said that everything is possible for him who believes, we have to believe he was telling the truth. It appears that his disciples had yet come to the realization that they could have driven that demon out, but apparently they did not believe it. When Jesus told them those types of demons require prayer to command to leave a person, he was being kind in some sense, instead of telling them they failed to believe. We should also note that this translation as well as many others, does not include the words “and fasting”. There are only a few manuscripts that have those words and the Greek interlinear does not. So perhaps Jesus did not include it, but just told them they needed to pray first before attempting to command such a difficult demon. Here is one of those truths we could learn from. Could we say that the one and most difficult sin to overcome is in some sense our personal demon? Then we will never overcome it unless we pray to God, then Jesus will tell it to leave and never return again. If we attempt to overcome on our own merits, our own abilities, we will fail. We cannot will ourselves to overcome it, it requires prayer. The second truth we should consider is the first response of Jesus about not believing and that everything is possible to him who believes. That means everything, not some things, but yet here they were not able to do everything nor are we. Why are we not able to do everything? Is it really because we do not believe? Is this everything really mean everything or it is just related to driving out demons? That would seem to fit the context, yet at other times Jesus also said that if we ask anything in his name he would do it for us. He also said that with men it is not possible, but all things are possible with God. If we believe, our lives should reflect that belief somehow other than just saying we believe, and acting sort of spiritual in church. Yes, we should take a lesson from Jesus and go into the church and teach the truth about the gospel. Yes, we should take a lesson from Jesus and heal the sick or drive out some demons. But the fact is we first need to believe. Are we just going through the motions or do we really believe? Would that also mean, if we believe, we could be free from all sin? Do we give ourselves the excuse that we are just human, and as a descendant of Adam, our nature is sinful, so, therefore, we will sin? Have we not been adopted, accepted by God as his children, and therefore we are not descendants of Adam, but of God. So then, if we believe, all things are possible, including overcoming sin. Maybe we would rather not believe so strongly, but just enough to be saved so that we can give ourselves into some sin once and awhile and not feel guilty about it, excusing ourselves because we are human. Maybe we are, and maybe we will never overcome all sin, but it sure seems that Jesus said that if we believe, all things, everything, not excluding anything, are possible, but it will require prayer.