If You Can

"'If you can?'" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." -Mark 9:23


In this statement Jesus is answering a father's request for Jesus to help him with his son. This father had watched his son since he was a young child suffer through torment day after day. His son was also mute. The father believed that the boy had a spirit that would try to throw the boy onto the ground, make him foam at the mouth, grind his teeth and go stiff as a board. He also said he has seen it throw his son into fire or water in order to kill him, and he believed that was the reason why his son could not speak.

The man had heard about the miracles that this Jesus was doing. A large crowd had gathered one day anticipating seeing Jesus. When the man heard about it, I am sure that he grabbed his boy and ran as fast as he could to the crowd. When Jesus came upon the crowd, the crowd grew excited. Here the teacher comes, the "miracle man." Many clamored to the front to get a glimpse of him, to touch him, to talk to him, to ask him for healing or blessing.

Then the father could contain himself no longer. He called out, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech." (Mark 9:17) He goes on to explain his son's condition. Earlier he had asked Jesus' disciples to heal him and they couldn't. Imagine the feelings this father was experiencing, "Is there no hope for my son? Will I ever be able to hear him call me 'Father?' I don't want to see him get hurt one more time. It pains me to see what his mother witnesses everyday when she is with him."

Jesus' response seems a bit peculiar.

"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." (Mark 9:19)

But looking back at the beginning of the chapter we see that Jesus has just had an amazing time up on a mountain. He was transfigured before Peter, James, and John's eyes. The Lord spoke to them all from a cloud that enveloped them, "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"

The disciples didn't get what was happening. Peter wanted to build shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah who also appeared with them. Jesus swore them to secrecy about what happened as they came down the mountain. Jesus knew that our unbelief can far outweigh our belief. He was sharing his frustration with the people. They didn't understand why He'd come to earth. Their vision, and ours, is limited to what we've experienced not to what we haven't experienced.

Heartbreak and hopelessness almost overcome this father as he sees his boy go into yet another seizure in front of Jesus, convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Speaking up, pleading the words stumble out of his mouth, "But if you can do anything..."

"'If you can?'" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

Everything? Anything? Not just "some" things? But every thing?

Hope rises in the father's heart but he understands the one thing that stands in the way. "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

Jesus speaks directly to the demon and commands it to come out. He calls it by name, "deaf and mute spirit," commands it to come out and orders it to never return. The spirit shrieked and came out and the boy looked dead. Jesus took his hand and helped him up.

What elation filled the fathers' heart as he held tightly to his son. The son he'd never heard speak was healed. Jesus had given this man his son back but more importantly had given him hope and belief in a Savior who transforms us.

What things stand in our way of believing Jesus' words, "Everything is possible for him who believes?" These miracles didn't end when Jesus ascended into heaven. They didn't end when the last disciple died. They didn't end at the turn of the century.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

Miracles, transformation, healing, forgiveness, they can be ours today. Jesus wants us to know the reality of himself in our lives. He is not dead. He is alive and he shows up in our lives when we choose to believe He is who He says He is.