Belief and Unbelief

      About halfway through the gospel account of Mark, Jesus brought His inner circle down from the Mount of Transfiguration. A crowd surrounded the remaining disciples and the scribes were arguing with them. A man had brought his demon-possessed son to see Jesus but could only find these disciples. He asked them to cast the demon out, but they were not able.

      The man said to Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22-ESV). How different a statement this is from the leper in Mark 1:40: “If you will, you can make me clean” (ESV). The leper knew the issue was not one of ability, but of willingness. Was Jesus willing? He was willing to cleanse the leper.

      But the man with the demon-possessed son needed to learn a lesson. Jesus responded, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23-ESV). Considering the man’s response, we might easily believe Jesus is saying, “I can do anything if you believe it enough.” That is not His point. Jesus is referring to His earlier statement about the disciples in Mark 9:19, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you?” (ESV). Then notice how Jesus responded to the disciples when they asked why they failed. He did not say, “Because the man didn’t believe enough.” He said, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer” (Mark 9:29).  The disciples had not relied on God. They had not believed enough.

      Jesus point was He could do anything because He had faith. Nevertheless, the man realized a rebuke for him as well. He responded to Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24-ESV). This is what the entire book of Mark is about. It is written to people who believe in order to help them with their unbelief. Throughout the entire book of Mark, we can’t help but see over and over again the mistakes of the apostles. They believed, but they needed help with their unbelief.

      Is that any different from us? I know it is no different from me. I believe, but I need help with my unbelief. I believe God is real, is good and is love, but sometimes I need help with my unbelief. I believe God has forgiven me and will deliver me from my sins, but sometimes I need help with my unbelief. I believe Jesus came to earth and died for my sins and the Spirit came and revealed the Bible, but sometimes I need help with my unbelief.

      Just as with this man, God gives us strength when we seek it, acting based on our faith and not based on our doubts. When the man acted from his faith, Jesus gave him what he needed to grow. God will do the same for us. We sometimes cry out, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.” In those times, we must act from our faith, not our doubts, and God will give us what we need to grow. God can and God will. Trust Him.

Edwin L. Crozier