Wisdom Wednesday: The Wisdom of Searching Part 3
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (Mk 9:22b–24 NASB 1995)
In parts 1 and 2 of this study, we considered two passages where groups were examining the Scripture–one group of hostile men seeking to deny Jesus, and another group that was searching Scripture with an open heart to see how the Law and Prophets spoke about Jesus.
In this third section, we look at one man who examined his own heart to realize that he desired to believe in Jesus, but recognized that he also had some doubts in his mind.
The context of this passage in Mark’s gospel was immediately following the transfiguration event (Mark 9:1-13) w him here Jesus selected Peter, James and John to go up to the mount where He was transfigured–changed to another form–so the disciples could see His deity. God the Father, in a voice from the cloud, confirmed by saying, “This is my beloved Son, Listen to him” (verse 7). On the return from this event down the mount, Jesus required them to remain silent about the event (verse 9).
As Jesus and the three men approached the other disciples, the Jewish scribes were arguing with them, and a large crowd had formed. The focus of the controversy was a man who brought his son to the disciples to be healed. All were excited when they saw Jesus coming, and Jesus asked them what they were discussing. But a man in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” (verses 17-18)
Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” (v. 19)
Then the man cried out with his problem: “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
He examined his own heart and believed in Jesus and that Jesus could rescue his son; yet he also acknowledged the frailty of his belief–the existence of doubt (unbelief).
Consider two well-known passages that hint at our need to ask for help about any doubt that lingers in our faith:
- “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.” Psalm 34:8-9 (NKJV)
- “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7 (NKJV)
Jesus healed the man’s son, and certainly removed his unbelief. In an act of wisdom, the man did not lean on his own reasoning and understanding; in his reverence for the Lord, he called for help, and in an act of faith trusted in Jesus.
Let us acknowledge our areas of doubt, and trust in the Lord rather than leaning on our own understanding.