Anchor My Faith

A Delay for Spiritual Growth

Scripture: Matthew 17:15; Mark 9:20-24; Luke 9:42

We ended the previous lesson with Jesus asking the father to bring the demon possessed boy to him.

^{Mk 9:20} “And they brought the boy to him. ^{Lk 9:42} While he was coming, ^{Mk 9:20} and when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.”

In the culture of that time, the father would not travel alone with the boy, but would probably have come as group of family members and even some close friends, and as a group they bring the boy to Jesus. As they were coming to him, the unclean spirit realizes what is about to happen when the boy appears before Jesus and takes out his anger toward and hatred of Jesus by abusing the boy. The spirit convulses the boy, causing him to fall to the ground and roll about, foaming at the mouth.

^{Mk 9:21} “Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”’

Jesus does not immediately heal the boy but allows him to remain in his tormented state while he has conversation with the father. Have we not at sometime brought an urgent request before God and had to wait for his response as the father and the boy wait for Jesus to heal? Why the delay and why in this case the need for this conversation which begins with how, “How long has this been happening to him?”

“And [the father] said, “From childhood. ^{Mk 9:22} And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. ^{Mt 17:15} Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. ^{Mk 9:22} But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”’

At first glance we see two aspects of the father’s statement. First is a description of the boy’s suffering and second is about the faith of the father. This issue of faith is, I believe, a reason for the conversation; this is what Jesus wanted to find out. Clearly the father wanted healing for his boy, but he wasn’t sure if Jesus could help, maybe because of the previous failed attempt on the part of the disciples.

When we bring a trial before God, what is our motive and what is our measure of faith? Do we simply want the trial to go away and restore our comfort, or do we want God to use the trial to develop further Christlike character in us? Are we clear about what God wants to accomplish in or through us at this time, or do we simply want relief? How much suffering are we willing to bear to become more like Jesus, which leads to the question of how much suffering are we willing to bear before we deny our faith in Jesus? A time delay may be important to resolve some of these issues as a time delay with the father of the boy was necessary for Jesus to evaluate the father’s faith. The boy needed healing, but the father needs to grow in his faith in God.

^{Mk 9:23} “[Then] Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ All things are possible for one who believes.” ^{Mk 9:24} Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”’

It appears that the father is merely seeking help through the miraculous power of Jesus. Jesus wants to correct the father by having him put his trust in God, to which the father responds that he has some faith but acknowledges his spiritual weakness and appeals to Jesus to create in him a heart that believes more firmly.

Conclusion

As the boy rolls around on the ground, suffering terribly from a seizure, he waits for deliverance as Jesus deals with the father’s lack of faith in God. This importance of spiritual growth, that Jesus wants for the father of the boy, is stressed in James 1:2 – 4 and in Romans 5:3 – 5. Let us not forget the importance of the process of being conformed into the image of Jesus.