St. John Lutheran Church

Mark 9:14-29

“I believe. Help my unbelief!”

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

In his hymn “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice” Martin Luther wrote these words describing his life: “Fast bound in Satan’s chains I lay, Death brooded o’er me, sin was my torment night and day, in sin my mother bore me; Yea, deep and deeper still I fell, Life had become a living hell, so firmly sin possessed me.”

These words of Luther could certainly describe our lives…for there are many days, problems, pains and hurts that we go through that cause our own lives to feel like a living hell; because sin firmly possess us and those around us.

This describes the father in our text most literally. “And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:14-24)

A father brought his Son to have a demon removed from his son. A demon that tried to harm the child since childhood; a demon that caused the boy to foam at the moth, fall to the ground, roll about, cast the boy into fire or water to kill him. This father was desperate for help! He came seeking the one he had heard of, Jesus, to help him. He found Jesus’ disciples. They tried to help…but failed. He was desperate. There was no one else to turn to. So ignoring the argument between the Disciples and scribes he speaks up from the crowd. Please Jesus. Help if you can. My son’s life is a living hell! My life, watching my son suffer, is a living hell. Help if you can!

We’ve been there. We’ve thought that. We’ve prayed. We’ve sought help. We have been that parent as our child has been rushed to the hospital and we hold them in the ambulance or carry them into the emergency room, ignoring all that is around us to help them even while praying and begging for help. We have been thought these words as we hear news of cancer… or heart failure… or stroke… We have thought those words as we’ve watched a loved one suffer through the wages of sin…and watched their final breaths struggling against a thousand and one ailments and disease. As we cling to them and our desire to keep them with us even as they are ready to go home to Christ. We have lived through a living hell as we watch others suffer and we try to take their suffering away but cannot. We have lived through our own living hell as we suffer… and wonder how to pay the bills or feed the family. And we have prayed “help me if you can…there is no one else that can help.” We, like this father, have cried out in our own way to Jesus “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

I believe Lord. I know that you can do anything! My faith trusts in you alone…but I have doubts. I live with despair. I lose hope and confidence. I question my faith. I wonder if you hear me, love me, or will help me. “Lord. I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

    “And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.” (Mark 9:23-27)

In the midst of doubt and despair Jesus helped the boy and cast out the demon. In the midst of the troubles of our lives Jesus helps and heals; Jesus loves us. Yes there are times when Jesus doesn’t answer the prayers in the way we want them answered. Yes there are times when the lives of Christians still seem to be a living hell. God does say no to our wants and prayers. And that is hard for us to accept and understand.

Luther goes on in his hymn to say this: “But God beheld my wretched state before the worlds foundation, and, mindful of His mercies great, He planned my soul’s salvation. A father’s heart He turned to me, sought my redemption fervently: He gave His dearest Treasure.”

Before the foundation of the world God our Heavenly Father planned to save us…each of  us… all of us…from sin and the living hell that sin causes. No, God may not take away all of the problems of this world…the pain…suffering…or sorrow… But God sent His greatest treasure: His only begotten Son… to carry our sin, to die, to receive the wrath we deserved; to take on sin, death, Satan and hell… that we would have life for all eternity with Him; that we would inherit paradise.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. This life may often feel like a living hell and be filled with all kinds of troubles, disease, doubts, and despair. But Christ took that hell upon himself. Christ bore our sin on the cross. Your salvation has been won. Hold fast to Jesus. Cling to Him and His promise. Be comforted and have joy. Heaven is yours. You and your loved ones have been redeemed by Christ. Our loved ones that have died in the faith surround us in heaven even now as we are lifted up in worship around Jesus Christ. You will see them again with your own eyes in paradise. For Christ is victorious and so are we. Amen.

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.