Believe, you, Jesus

In Mark, chapter 9, Jesus comes upon a man arguing with his disciples. This man was a father, who had a son that was being seized by impure spirits. In desperation, this father had asked the disciples to heal his son and found that they could not. In steps Jesus, and the spirits within the boy had a physical reaction to the nearness of the Lord.  Seeing this scene, Jesus responds with these honest words,

“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.” 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!”

- Mark 9:19-24

Several things stand out to me about this passage. First, Jesus' reaction the father is somewhat surprising to me. The Jesus in my head is gentleness and compassion. To be sure, He IS those things. But His response here is bordering on frustration towards a generation with doubting hearts. This father is desperate and He knows that Jesus and His disciples offer some hope - why else would he be carrying on so? He is crying out for help, to save his child. What parent wouldn't? But he needed a miracle. He needed for the impossible to happen. Did he believe that Jesus was special? I believe he did. I think he had hope that THIS man could be the answer. But did He think that Jesus could do the miraculous? No. He may have wanted to, but doubt crept in and made him question, made him doubt his hope. And thus, he believed and still had unbelief.

I have been there myself. I have wanted to believe that God could do wondrous things in my life and the lives of others. I have desired for Him to swoop in and right my wrongs. And I have desperately prayed for Jesus to do something major and miraculous in my life. And in my praying and seeking, I fully believed that Jesus was huge and big. But when it comes down to it, there is still a piece of me that has trouble letting go of that unbelief. But I am not alone in this problem:

In the Old Testament, we know that God helped Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt. In doing so, He provided a slew of signs and wonders to help them get by. He provided a cloud by day and a fire by night to lead them through the wilderness. He made it rain manna from Heaven that they would eat and not be hungry. He made water from the rocks so that they might not thirst. And He parted a Red Sea so that they might escape their enemies. In all this, God was faithful. And yet, at every turn, the Israelites grumbled and complained to Moses about their state and conditions.

There is great power in the one who is full of belief in God and the promises about who He says He is and what He says He will do.

¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame." Romans 10:9-11

And yet, most of us are like Thomas. We need to see to believe. There must be proof before there is a commitment. But what are we asking God to prove? That He can? That He will? That He wants to? Thomas said:

“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

 
And in His mercy, the Lord provided help for the unbelief, when He said to Thomas,

 

“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” - John 20:25-29

 

Jesus must get frustrated with our lack of faith. We have seen that in the scriptures. And yet, He continues to answer our call for sight. He continues to show us what we need to see to trust and follow Him. Jesus knows we are a people born of weakness who desire belief, but also struggle with unbelief. He has designed the gospel to fulfill that need. This is also why He performed those signs and wonders we spoke of. The book of John closes with these verses:

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe^[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. - John 20:30-31

Where are you right now when it comes to belief? Are you finding it easy to believe? Or are you experiencing a Thomas moment? Maybe, like the father in the first example you are wrestling with unbelief in a desperation to find belief. Wherever you are at, offer it up to Jesus. Ask Him to help you with your unbelief and He will. His desire, His whole plan, is that we would believe and have life in Him.