Let’s begin. Start with a prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what he wants to show you.

Read Mark 9:14-29 in your Bible. As you are reading, ask the questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how as well as any repeated words or phrases. We’ll go through these together. Look for a verse(s) that stand out to you the most. The one that grabs your attention.

Now let’s go through these questions together.

Who? Who is speaking, who is being mentioned? We already know that Mark is the author of this book. We have the disciples, scribes, a crowd, a man and his boy, an evil spirit, and of course Jesus.

When? This was right after the transfiguration.

Where? This took place by the mountain side since this was right after Jesus returned with 3 of his disciples.

What? What is happening in these verses? Jesus was returning from his transfiguration when he saw a commotion taking place. When he asked what was going on, a man informed Jesus that he brought his son who had an evil spirit in him to the disciples so that they could cast out the spirit, but the disciples were unable to do so. As Jesus arrived to the scene, the disciples and the scribes were arguing about the method for deliverance. After hearing about this, Jesus had them bring the boy to Him, and he casted out the spirit. The disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t do it, and Jesus said it could only be done by prayer.

Why? Why is this being mentioned? Why is this/will be happening? This story is being told to us as another example to testify to who Jesus was and the power and authority he walked in.

How does this happen/take place? Mark is telling the stories about Jesus to continue to tell us who He is. Jesus performs this deliverance to continue to teach the disciples and to answer the prayers of this desperate father. Jesus was also filled with compassion for this desperate father.

Repeated words or phrases? A phrase that I saw was “cast it out”. There was a a couple repeated words, but the word that stood out to me was believe & unbelief.

Before we continue any further, what verse(s) stood out to you?  The verse that stood out to me was verse 24, and it says (NLT), “The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!””

What does this mean? This passage has multiple things going on. We first have the scribes chiming in their two cents on what it means to cast out demons. Then we have the disciples unable to cast out the demon and puzzled as to why, since in Mark 6:7 they were given the authority to cast out demons by Jesus. Next, we have a desperate father who doesn’t know what to do or where else to go, and at this point he shows doubt as to whether his boy will be delivered or not. His faith has been weakened. He just wants his boy to be healed. He believes that Jesus can but wonders if He will. The father’s question to Jesus in verse 22 was about his personal doubt not Jesus’ capability to heal. After looking up the meaning for believe and unbelief, the father is saying, “I think it be true that you can heal, help my weakness of faith.”

After all of this, the disciples questioned Jesus about why they couldn’t casted out the spirit, and Jesus informs them that it requires prayer and fasting. It’s not about that the prayer and fasting, but about drawing close to God and obtaining His heart and placing ourselves in line with His power and not of our own. This is more evidence about our dependence on God.

What does this mean to me? Again there is so much here, but I will stick to 2 points. I’ll start with the father and his son. The father believed that Jesus and his disciples could heal his boy. However, when the disciples were unable to heal the boy, doubt settled in. Just because we have faith, it does not mean that faith is absent of doubt. We can still pray and seek Jesus even in our doubt. It’s when we are honest with ourselves and with God that matters like this father was with Jesus. Jesus still answered the father’s request.

The second point, which kind of connects to the first, is Jesus telling the disciples that this miracle was only met through prayer and fasting, meaning spending time with Jesus and getting God’s heart on situations. You see, the boys father still pursued Jesus even in his doubt to find out if Jesus wanted to heal his boy. In Jesus’ presence, the father received his miracle.

My two take always from this passage is first acknowledge my unbelief and doubt. The second, be persistent with prayer and draw close to God.

What verse spoke out to you and what is God trying to show you through it? Write it out in your journal. Then say a prayer and have a conversation with God about it.

Prayer: Jesus, first of all, I want to thank you for who you are and for coming and taking my place for punishment even though I deserve it. There are times when I come to you in need of an answered prayer. I admit and repent for the times that I doubt that you would even answer them. Just as the father pleaded with you then, I plead with you now. “Lord, help my unbelief.” Help me Holy Spirit to remember that I need to be persistent in prayer and in communion with you. Thank you for your grace and mercy. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.