Mark 9:14-29

Prayer Cures Unbelief

Devotional 46 of 50 · Mark chapter 9

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After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.” So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. “Do not be afraid,” said Jesus. “Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see Me.” While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And after the chief priests had met with the elders and formed a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and instructed them: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ If this report reaches the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the guards took the money and did as they were instructed. And this account has been circulated among the Jews to this very day. Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them

Mark 9:14-29 · BSB

¹⁴When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were filled with awe and ran to greet Him. ¹⁶“What are you disputing with them?” He asked. ¹⁷Someone in the crowd replied, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a spirit that makes him mute. ¹⁸Whenever 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 it out, but they were unable.” ¹⁹“O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.” ²⁰So they brought him, and seeing Jesus, the spirit immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been with him?” “From childhood,” he said. ²²“It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” ²³“If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!” ²⁴Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” ²⁵When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.” ²⁶After shrieking and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He is dead.” ²⁷But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. ²⁸After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” ²⁹Jesus answered, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.”

Jesus

This is a side of Jesus we have not seen before. We already know that He has authority over demons, can heal the sick, and work miracles. It is also no surprise that He can do things His disciples can not do. But, here, we see firsthand Him voicing frustration due to a lack of faith.

Jesus says in response to their unbelief, “How long must I remain with you?” I can’t imagine Jesus saying that to me. Those words must have stung. Jesus is deeply bothered by unbelief and its consequences.

But we don’t see Him instruct for more belief or more faith directly. What does Jesus prescribe? He does not directly say, just muster up more faith. It might be because faith is not something we can muscle out. But he prescribes something else to the lack of faith– verse 29, He says “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.”

When we pray, we are placing dependence on God, and not on ourselves. The very act of prayer is the act of looking to God in faith. In this scene, maybe the faith of the people shifted to disciples? Maybe the disciples' faith shifted onto themselves? Whatever the case, the solution is prayer–faith set on God Himself, and not even God working though people.

His Desires

Jesus desires that we would not feel, or live in, unbelief or the ramifications that it brings. Instead, He longs that we live in and walk in the result of faith in Him. This does not come about through trying to have more faith, but it comes through prayer.

Prayer stirs faith, shows faith, and even grows faith. Prayer lifts our attention above our circumstances and sets it firmly on Christ. As we behold Jesus and look to Him, faith is stirred, darkness trembles, and lives are changed.

Prayer leads to faith, faith leads to a life of peace knowing all things are possible for God. Jesus desires that we live in a place of deep faith in God, springing up from heartfelt prayer.

When we cry out like the father in this account “Lord, help my unbelief”, may we hear the Christ’s directive to pray.

Follow Through

Admit unbelief and ask for help.
Lift your needs to God in prayer.
Build faith through prayer.
Walk in faith.
The Second Prediction of the Passion (Matthew 17:22–23 ; Luke 9:43–45)

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