If! It must have been a bizarre scene. Jesus comes off Mt. Transfiguration where He has just met with Moses and Elijah in an awe inspiring experience. Peter, James and John had to still be buzzing with excitement. Here at the base of the mountain were the other nine disciples in an argument with a crowd of people. What a spiritual high killer.
Turns out the other nine weren't able to cast out a demon possessing a boy. So, the argument ensued. The Bible doesn't say what the argument was about, but my guess is that there was some questioning of the nine's spiritual manhood. It's one of the those times in which Jesus smacks Himself on the forehead, rolls His eyes and shakes His head. My interpretation of verse 19, "Morons! Just bring me the boy and I'll show you pin heads how to do this." The text leaves no doubt that Jesus was exasperated with His disciples.
When they brought Him the boy and the evil spirit in the boy started throwing a temper tantrum, the father asked Jesus to heal him, "if He could." That's if He "could" not if He "would." I'd like to have seen the look on Jesus' face at that moment, "IF you can?" Jesus says, "Are you questioning me? You think I can't handle this? Do you believe in God and His power or don't you?"
There's a lot of times we approach God with the same mentality. We bring an issue, a problem, a request to God with the "if you can" attitude. God, please answer my prayer if you can. And God's response is, "If you can?" If we doubt Him, why would He respond? God doesn't have to prove anything to us. The issue is about our faith. God says, "Look around, dude. You think all this got here by accident? Some big bang and the universe just appeared out of gas clouds."
The disciples failed because of their lack of faith and trust in God's power over their own. The man's son might had never been healed because of his lack of faith. IF. Our football coaches used to tell us when we started using the "if" excuse, that "If means I Failed." In this case "if" means "incomplete faith."
Jesus said that everything is possible for him(her) who believes. The father's response was quick, "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief." Do you believe that God can heal your sick or dead marriage? Do you believe that God can heal your financial woes? Do you believe that God can help you overcome that habit? Do you believe God can get you through this rough patch? Do you believe God can heal your physical issue? Your health issue? Your emotional distress? Your spiritual pain? Do you believe God can supply all your needs?
God, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.
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