Mark 9: 1-29 About What a Real-World Faith Looks Like.

In this story, Mark 9: 1-29, we notice how Jesus solves a real-life problem for a father and a son. They were released from a tough life – from a situation that had originated in the pits of evil and hell that was designed to mar and fracture the human soul. With a word – Jesus sets the young man free. That is power. Then, with a loving gesture, he raises the young man up who looked like he had died.

…But I have jumped ahead.

The road to this great outcome had been somewhat of a journey for the father and for the disciples.
A journey in which Jesus had said to a doubting father, “Everything is possible for one who believes” (v23).
We also saw how Jesus makes the point that it is ..faith, faith in Him… that makes the impossible, possible. Not faith in your own faith. The man was quick to understand this and so asked Jesus to help him in his unbelief.

The disciples, though, had missed this (and this is why Mark includes the story here).
They tried to help the young man but could not. It looks like they were trying to help him in their own strength. They had presumed they had something special on their own. Maybe, that they were special. Jesus reveals this when He points out that they had failed to pray (v29). They had failed to realise that prayer is a relationship to be pursued with God, not a button to be pushed. They missed that anything ‘powerful’ we do is because of God’s power in us because of this relationship.

May we be quick to realise our inability and say, like the father in the story: ‘Help me in my unbelief!’ This is where the story starts for us and where it should continue. This is where the ability to speak and demonstrate the Good News of Jesus towards a fractured world finds its strength and power.

I wonder:

• how aware you are today of this vital relationship with God – down in the valley of the ‘real-world’?
• What could you do to pause and cultivate this relationship today? and do it every day?
• To become more aware of His presence, and to make prayer more like breathing.
• May we see God’s Kingdom come in us and around us as we do this.