Mark 9:14-29   Mark sets another scene for us.. Jesus coming down the mountain.. to a crowd surrounding His disciples.. with scribes arguing.. and with one desperate man hoping someone could deliver his son from an evil spirit.  

This young man suffered so much.  He could not speak.. he had terrible seizures that would cause him to fall to the ground, grind his teeth, foam at the mouth, and stiffen out.  The father tells Jesus, " And I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it."  

What was going on in this encounter?  Jesus centers in on the main problem.. "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you?... "  Was He addressing the man, the crowd, or the disciples?  Whose lack of faith kept this boy from deliverance?  Perhaps it was all of them.. 

Jesus continued, "... Bring him to Me!"   He watched the boy being attacked by the evil spirit, thrown to the ground.. convulsing, rolling about and foaming at the mouth.. but He still did not act.  "And He asked his father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' "   Jesus seemed to be waiting for the father to ask the question.. to make the plea.. to state his position... until finally the man humbled himself and realized his own need.. "But if You can do anything take pity on us and help us!"  

Still Jesus waited, ".. If You can!  All things are possible to him who believes."  Only then does the father cry out, "I do believe ; help my unbelief."   This cry is one that we all probably have made at one time or another.. "Lord, I believe.. but help my unbelief."  My faith is puny sometimes. Like this man.. we want help.. we need help.. we think we can demand that help.. but only when we really encounter the One who can hear our cry, do we bow before Him and surrender our unbelief. 

Jesus healed this young man. As the evil spirit left him it cried out.. it threw the boy down.. and he appeared to be dead.  But.. Jesus took his hand and raised him up.  "All things are possible to him who believes."!!   Even if that belief is puny... 

Father, There is nothing that You cannot do. There is no-one that is too far gone for You to help. We pray that You will increase our faith.. that You would draw us nearer to the grace and truth found in Christ Jesus our Healer and Deliverer.  Help us learn to trust fully and to pray always.  Thank You for this word that reveals to  us the power and the kindness of Jesus. Thank You that He can do all things! We need You, Lord Jesus.. have Your way in us today we pray. Amen.