READING: MARK 9:14-32

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

‘What are you arguing with them about?’ he asked.

A man in the crowd answered, ‘Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever 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 out the spirit, but they could not.’

‘You unbelieving generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.’

So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, ‘How long has he been like this?’

‘From childhood,’ he answered. ‘It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’

‘“If you can”?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. ‘You deaf and mute spirit,’ he said, ‘I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’

The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, ‘He’s dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’

He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer.’

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.’ But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

REFLECTION

Sixteen years ago I moved to Sheffield to take part in something called Tribal Training. It’s now called Form and it's part of the STC College. A much more palatable name – and one that raises less eyebrows.

I’ll be honest: it had its tough moments.

An issue for me was around the subject of faith. People around me were talking of faith for this and faith for that. Faith, it seemed, was like the magic dust. The more you had, the more you could do for God. The thing I couldn’t really work out was this: was faith my responsibility – did I need to muster up faith – this way of seeing the world through God’s eyes; of believing the impossible? I really wrestled with it – I just didn’t seem to have it. I seemed to have too many doubts. Some said I was too cynical. Someone prayed ‘bypass his mind, Lord’…

As others around me were seeing remarkable things, I got more fed up.

I went to see someone about it. She heard me talk through my concerns and issues. I don’t remember all of what she said but she encouraged me to do something. Write down the bits from the Bible that say who you are – you’re a child of God; God has forgiven you; God has adopted you – write them down and put them on your wall. Fill your mind with the good things of God – what the Bible says about Him and what it says about you.

I’ll be honest – I didn’t do it. My church background was that Bible study was in groups on a Tuesday night. It wasn’t for post-it notes to be put on walls.

Besides, I’d heard stories of people falling over in prayer times and when they got up – all this stuff was sorted in an instant. That seemed like a much better deal to me!

Faith, and whether we have enough of it, can be a real source of tension for Christians. We need more faith – to move mountains in fact – for finance, for healing – and if you don’t have it you can feel like a second class Christian.

Jesus says we only need a bit. The size of a tiny mustard seed.

Today’s passage is about a boy who is seriously ill. The scriptures say he has been influenced by a demon and things have got so bad he’s doing all kinds of bizarre things. His father is worried sick.

Jesus has a conversation with the father, that tells us something about the nature of faith: ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’

The father’s earlier question is telling: ‘but if you can do anything…’

Jesus calls him on it: ‘If you can’...

Here’s the thing – Jesus can do something because he’s has the power to do it. The miracle doesn’t depend on the amount of faith the father has but on who Jesus is. That’s an important distinction and can get lost in discussions on faith. Often the focus is too much on how much faith I might have, which can come back to me.  The issue is, however much faith you have, your focus and attention is always pointing to Jesus – the author of faith.

Hence why when Jesus says these demons can only come out by prayer is a way of reminding the disciples – it’s Him and His authority which they now share – not their skill.

As I look back on the advice given to me all those years ago – putting scriptures on post it notes was good advice.

If you’re facing a challenge today, what does Jesus say about you today? What are his promises for your life? Perhaps today is the day to pop to WH Smith at lunch time and pick up some post-it notes, and remind yourself who you are, and who Jesus is.

PRAYER

Lord, this day may we be reminded of your love for us, and our identity as your children.

Amen

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