Aug 20 2023 Mark 9 - Faith or Faithlessness?

Mark 9:14 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 "You 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 one 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. “

If we go back – I want to highlight a couple of things –

This is another Disciple Failure story. In Chapter 6 – they are sent on a mission trip – and they all cast out many demons – so something has changed from Chapter 6 to Chapter 9

Mark 6:7 Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

There is another characteristic of Mark’s gospel – at times, it seems Jesus is being harsh (calling the woman a dog… speaking in parables so that they will not understand, turn and be forgiven – the disciples on the sea…)

19 "You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

You might think there would be a ‘nice try, guys! You’ll get ‘em next time – but it seems that Jesus simply expresses disappointment with them. This is a faith and doubt story. And Jesus may be frustrated, but there is so much more to the story than that. There are some clues that lead us in another direction.

Theological point – when you read the Bible, you are looking for meaning. You are not just reading it like reading a story. There is meaning in three ways – in the text itself – what is going on with the dad, the boy, Jesus, and the disciples.

But there is something going on – that Jesus is trying to communicate something to the audience – and then, how does this relate to us?

Most, if not all, would agree that Mark wrote his gospel between the late 50s and 60s – and that is a ten-year window. And there were numerous times during that time that Christians were going through a lot of persecution. And whenever he wrote it – the Christians were either going through tribulation, or about to go through it – or recently went through it – and Mark is encouraging them to keep the faith. We will all go through difficult times. It is hard to believe and have faith at times.

Some translations – “You FAITHLESS generation” – that sounds even harsher. Faithless – could mean totally untrustworthy – or that someone has broken their loyalty – Both of those are true – along with this – unbelieving – Belief/faith/faithfulness – all the same word. To us, those can be very different.

What Jesus is doing – when He is talking like this – He is allowing His disciples to know that they are still a part of this generation. He connects them and ties them at this point in their life – they are tied to this ‘unfaithful generation’

Faithfulness comes in all shapes and sizes – it is not just ‘leaving the church’ – but in this situation – the most devout, religious people in Israel – Jesus is calling unfaithful. And all of us in some ways struggle with this. As He connects them with their generation – all of us are connected with our generation. We are all influenced by our world. We might say – we are all influenced by culture – we are all conforming – in some ways – to our culture – and like the disciples, we can’t see it because we swim in that water all our lives.

And the funny thing – the ones fighting culture – are conformed to that culture! Everyone is fighting against culture, so that is part of our culture. What did OUR parents say – “This next generation will ruin the world” – And guess who that is now? Our generation trying to prevent the next generation from ruining the world!

Without faithfulness, there is no faith, according to the Bible. They are tied together. And without faith, there is no faithfulness.

How long shall I stay with you? Jesus is differentiating Himself from the generation. I don’t belong here! How long do I have to stay here?! In doing that – He is not harsh.

What He is trying to show the disciples and the crowd – that they are lacking something – faithfulness.

Faithfulness does not mean being in church every week – but what He means – what they had lost – was a love relationship with God. That is what was missing. They were into the religious trappings – but they had somehow given up this deep, intimate relationship. And that is what Jesus is taking them back to.

If you are growing in a love relationship with God, you are also becoming a faithful disciple.

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.

The father is the example of faith – for us today.

… But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 " 'If you can'?" said Jesus.

There are a couple ways to look at it – If I can? I’ve got this one! Just believe!

The man’s faith is weak, but he is not faithless. He is not faithless – and you see it in his response.

Take pity on us – Have mercy on us and help us

He is in the beginning – entering into this love relationship. He has a desperate need – and that brings us into a love relationship with God.

He understands that only Jesus can help him – and he does it because He is merciful. So, we see every aspect of what this relationship is to be like – We need Jesus’ help! He offers that only by His grace and mercy and no other way – and only by that.

I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief! When Jesus hears this – I think He is delighted – like, that’s the attitude I’m looking for!

Help me! Because this is hard! Doubts are a normal part of it! We don’t see this stuff happening! And doubt like this is not a sign of faithlessness – it is the way faith develops and grows!

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."

Back to the disciples:

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. “

What did we do wrong?

6:7 Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Wait a minute – you gave us authority! Where did it go?

Sometimes our success is our biggest enemy! We think this way worked – and then all of a sudden, this way does not work!

You know – in raising children – you might think – that worked with that one, why doesn’t it work with the other!

Children are unique! I think the disciples saw some success and thought, “we’ve got this” – and they found a formula that worked and failed to rely on faith in Jesus. We can mistake what we think works for God who must do the work!

This kind can only come out by prayer!

And some of us feel guilty! I never pray enough! I don’t think he is saying that – this kind of demon requires a week of prayer and fasting and then you need to do this or that… - Jesus has NEVER mentioned prayer in the gospel of Mark to this point! All He has done is prayed – not WITH the disciples, but He has gone away to pray. And Jesus is connecting prayer to His relationship with the Father. He is trying to help us connect prayer with our relationship with God.

The purpose of prayer is to help grow this love relationship with God.

If you want to have more faith, you need to have more relationship. You need to know Me. Our faith is not something we drum up and get really good at – like, say, bowling…

Faith is something that is connected with relationship. Faith in a person is connected with relationship.

What we tend to do – and I think He wants the disciples to understand – in John, Jesus tells a parable about a vine and branches – you need to stay attached to Me. You need to stay connected for everything you are doing.

When we get out on our own, not connected and fully reliant on God, we get to a place we can’t do it.

We like to turn everything into a step-by-step solution.

Have you ever Googled – How do you do this? And it goes step by step.

Some pastors have 4 steps, 3 keys, or 9 ways… I do that all the time – and there is nothing wrong with that – that is all fine – but it is all about a relationship with God. It is about developing trust in Him.

This person is known as a person of faith – and called the friend of God:

Hebrews 11: 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Did he? Maybe. Maybe eventually. He doesn’t do it directly! He makes some stops along the way – and yet, we see him as a person of faith.

All of our faith will look like that! That is what we do! (hedge my bets…)

9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

Ultimately, yes! But when he gets to the land, there is a famine – so he goes to Egypt. And what does he do? This lady? She’s, uh, my sister…

They understood who Abraham was.

10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

What about Hagar? What about laughing at the angels? “I didn’t laugh!” But through the end, the relationship is faith.

12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Like the father, and like Abraham, we learn to receive God’s mercy and grace through failure and faithlessness. It is in the middle – in the context of our failures and our faithlessness – that God wants us to cry for help and mercy. It is within that context that He develops and grows the relationship. We can only come into relationship through our failures – and that is how the relationship grows.

One closing statement – Jesus talks about having childlike faith – and at times we think that is a personality thing – we know people like that – but is more than a personality – it is a developed trust.

Our two granddaughters – the 2-year-old, especially – for all of her two years – Mom and Dad have taken care of her – fed her –

We’re going to be watching them for a couple days in October…

When the 4-year-old heard this – Do they know where our food is?

But for the 2-year-old – Our son can throw her in the air – and there is sheer joy because of this developed trust.

Faith is not something we drum up or have a gift or are good at – it is developed through relationship with God.