I believe. Help my unbelief!

In Mark 9:22b-24 it reads (ESV), “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!’”

This father asked in desperation, so wanting his son to be freed from the evil spirits. He made two statements – both bold and remarkable in that he would say these to Jesus face to face.

I believe: Something we are incapable of doing completely, yet this man makes an absolute statement to Jesus. Perhaps it was made out of the desire to have Jesus step in to help his son, totally understandable, or maybe he believes enough to know Jesus could heal him – although verse 22 indicates the doubt he expressed, which Jesus picks up on in verse 23.

Help my unbelief: Now, there is the unvarnished truth. We can’t believe completely and entirely on our own. Too many things in this world that will cause the most faithful person to question. Yet he asks the object of his faith to help him with his faith. I can’t even think of an applicable metaphorical example for this!. We have the same opportunity as this father, to plead with Jesus to help our unbelief. What might be the response?

John 15:4 could be one. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

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