See Jesus About It (Mark 9:14-29)
Gary McManus, 11/14/2021Part of the Prayer series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
November 14, 2021 Mark 9:14-29
Today’s topic: faith.
The word faith has more than one meaning.
The Bible talks about faith in more than one way.
Americans focus on only one meaning; statements
of belief.
First, a few questions:
Anyone NOT sat in the waiting room
for a doctor or dental appointment?
Ever sat there LONG AFTER the appointed time
and not been called?
More?
Job in the Book of Job was sitting in
God’s waiting room. . . .and disaster struck.
Job might have wondered what you wondered
in the waiting room. Job said nothing (Job 2:10).
Job did get depressed. Right?
Job turns down the offer to break his relationship
with God. (Job 2:9)
Job remains in Job’s relationship with God.
Job’s so called friends will argue that there is
something wrong with Job’s relationship with God.
FORTY CHAPTERS LATER, in the book of Job,
the Lord God HIMSELF shows up.
God speaks directly to Job.
Job is exonerated. . .Job STILL DOES
have a relationship with the Lord God (Job 42:7-9).
Statements of faith:
I believe in God the Father. OR,
I trust in God the Father.
When used that way—and the Bible certainly does,
“trust” = “have a relationship with”.
I “have a relationship with” God the Father.
Keeping that in mind when reading Mark 9.
This report of a healing in Mark’s gospel is complex.
The Father states in vs 17, that he brought his son to Jesus. Jesus was not present (Mark 9:14, Mark 9:2, Mark 9:9).
The Father had a measure of faith.
So did the disciples present (they went ahead to help
the Father/son).
Jesus points out that that generation lacked faith. (Mark 9:19)
The father stated:
“if you can do anything” (Mark 9:22), not “heal my son”.
The father had come to find help.
The father did not come to Jesus for Jesus to actually heal his son. [See Jairus’ measure of faith (Mark 5:35-36).]
Jesus wanted the Father to see that coming to Jesus as the one who CAN heal, brings healing.
This is confirmed when Jesus talks with the disciples
(Mark 9:29). Prayer is dependent on having a relationship with the Lord. Knowing Jesus’ teachings isn’t enough.
Knowing Jesus IS what is necessary for faith to be effective. Can we say, “it isn’t what you know, it’s who you know”? (See Matthew 18:20)
Do you have a relationship with Jesus?
Have and keep, abide in Jesus, our Lord.
Trust in Jesus. Amen.
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