CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23).
The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.
First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.
Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as illnesses, demons, faith, forgiveness, healing.
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23).
IN CONTEXT
‘”And one person from the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, because he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff. And I told Your disciples so that they would cast it out, but they could not do it.”
“And He answered them, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” And they brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, the spirit immediately threw him into convulsions, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.
“And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” But Jesus said to him, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible for the one who believes.”
“Immediately, the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
“When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again!”
“And after crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out.” (Mark 917-26)
REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:
“Jesus, I know You can, can do all things. Have pity and help me!”
“IF I CAN?” – Jesus’ question to the father.
Oddly, in our text, the father asks Jesus to help him and his son, “If He can”. And, Jesus replies with an interrogatory, “IF I CAN?” The man immediately, and correctly, begs for help with his unbelief.
There are other times that doubt plagued even the disciples:
“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated to them. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.” (Matthew 28:17). But Jesus sent them anyway.
“But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So, the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.
“Eight days later His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.” Then He *said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-29). But Jesus showed Thomas anyway and helped him is his disbelief.
Dear Friends, let’s always remind each other, that “it is with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (see Romans 10:10).
Say it. Believe it. Do it!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
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