The Man Who said, "Help My Unbelief."

By Mary Vee
Mark 9, Matthew 17, Luke 9

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee, Israel near the mountain

I am a disciple of Jesus.

James, John, and I walked down the mountain with Jesus and joined the other disciples. 

A large crowd had gathered around them. Teachers of the law were also there. The teachers argued with the nine disciples who had been left behind.

The people who had been listening to the arguing saw Jesus approaching his disciples. They seemed overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

Jesus asked them, "What are you arguing about?"

A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to see you. He is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of his speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground." The man's sadness turned to pleading. "My son foams at the mouth, he gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid to the point I can't help him." I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not." He sighed. "This is what they have been arguing about."

Jesus looked at the disciples and the teachers and said, "O unbelieving generation." The nine disciples looked down at the ground. "How long must I stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

The man went back and brought his son to Jesus. When the spirit in the boy saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

The crowd stepped back, afraid, yet curious.

Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"

The father closed his eyes, overcome with sadness. "From childhood. It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything for my son, please take pity on us and help him."

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

The father's sadness immediately turned to hope. "I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief."

Jesus looked up at the crowd drawing closer. He turned back to the boy. "You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, leave him and never enter him again."

The spirit shrieked a horrible sound so loud we covered our ears. The spirit caused the boy to convulse violently then it left him. 

The boy lay still on the ground. He looked dead, so much so, many from the crowd said, "He's dead."

Jesus took the boy by the hand and lifted him to his feet. He then stood by himself. He looked at the people standing near him and smiled. "Father, I am well!"

While the crowd stayed close to the boy, Jesus led the other disciples and me indoors. I must admit, I was as curious as the others why the nine disciples couldn't help the boy, so we asked.

Jesus said, "You have so little faith. Believe me when I say if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Trust me, nothing will be impossible for you. This boy's issue could only be helped with sincere prayer."

That night when I slept, I continued thinking about that boy and how Jesus helped him. I knew then that had I been one of the nine in that situation I wouldn't have been able to help him either. I prayed, asking God to help my unbelief.

 Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.

What Great Faith Can Do

By Mary Vee
Mark 7, Matthew 15

Peter

Photo Courtesy: Google Maps plus added notations

I am a disciple of Jesus.

Jesus said it was time to leave the Capernaum area after the issue with the Pharisees. You can read about it in the last post.

We, Jesus' disciples, followed Him northwest to the Mediterranean Shore to the area of Tyre and Sidon.

We went into a house. Jesus had chosen not to tell the people who lived there who He was at that time. But, He must have been noticed. The word spread that he was there, drawing men and women to come see Him.

A woman who lived in the area, a Canaanite, came to visit Jesus. Once she saw him she cried out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."

Jesus didn't say anything.

She continued to cry out, calling attention to herself. The other disciples and I were unsure what to do, but it seemed we needed to get this woman to leave. We went to Jesus and asked him, "Should we send her away? She keeps crying out and creating such a scene."

Jesus said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

The woman pressed closer to Jesus. She knelt before him and cried out, "Lord, help me!"

Jesus said, "It's not right to take the bread that belongs to one's own children and toss it to their dogs."

The woman said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

Jesus smiled, "Woman, you have great faith. Your request is granted." 

The woman left and when she went home, she found her daughter had been healed and that it had happened at the same hour Jesus had spoken to her.

As Jesus disciple, I have learned that everything He says and does has importance. This woman was not an Israelite, yet her faith in Jesus as the one who could heal had given her what she asked.

Jesus once said, "Ask and you will receive." But he didn't mean it in a way that we could have whatever we wanted. We need faith like this woman, and our purpose must be to bring praise to God. That is why Jesus healed the woman's daughter.

 Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


*********************************************************************************************

sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.