Faith in Everything

Scripture: When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them ... "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked. Mark 9:14,16

Observation: Jesus comes down from the transfiguration and finds this scene, and when asking why they are arguing a man steps forward with a possessed boy. There is a LOT going on here. The disciples have failed to drive out the spirit ... they are arguing with the Pharisees who presumably have also failed to address this ... the evil spirit is strong and of a special kind according to Jesus ... and notably, the boy's father doesn't really have faith that Jesus can do anything. The father says "if" you can do something - a fact Jesus jumps on and corrects him for - and even before he says that Jesus condemns the entire crowd for their lack of faith, asking how long must he put up with them.

But ... what were the disciples and Pharisees actually arguing about? Were they simply fighting about the boy's situation, with the Pharisees saying "see, you can't fix this either, so your discipleship in Jesus is meaningless" and the disciples saying "we've been driving out evil spirits all over the region for months, just wait until Jesus gets here"? That sounds just about right for a playground fight. The hint about the argument is probably in who Jesus is rebuking for their faithlessness.

It likely isn't the disciples. He has before corrected them for their lack of understanding, but not for their lack of faith. He has sent them out two by two and they succeeded in faith, and in the end he doesn't call out a 'faith-issue' with them. However, the people - led by the Pharisees - do not come to Jesus out of faith, they come because of what Jesus can do for them. They are overwhelmed by 'wonder' when he arrives (v15) but not faith. The father is quick to doubt the disciples (v18) and doesn't know if Jesus can help (v22). Jesus knows they are without faith even before the father explicitly says it (v19).

I would guess the disciples and Pharisees are arguing about the reason they cannot drive out the spirit. The Pharisees are explaining it under the Law ... that the family's lack of obedience prevents God's intervention. The disciples are explaining it by their experience ... the lack of faith of everyone is the issue. It's a "faith versus works" argument! Though in this case, it's about improving life, not earning salvation. Jesus' decision to heal despite that lack of faith is actually his response to the argument. He fully addresses this as a faith issue, but also shows that, as Lord, he has authority.

Application: As I consider every situation in life, I need to confirm ... do I have faith? Faith is the heart of discipleship and life in Jesus Christ. Without faith, Jesus can still do great things, but with faith we can achieve his kingdom work through the power of the Holy Spirit. If every challenge begins with a gut-check on faith, success as aligned to God's will is assured. Simply trying to do the right thing, or follow some set of instructions, still might work as Jesus reaches out to us in love, but faith is still critical.

Prayer: Lord, I have faith in you as my Lord and savior, and I have faith in your direction in my life. I am following you daily, and seek your path. May I apply my faith to every footfall as well. May I have faith in small things and big things. I seek not just your will for my life, but for the next two minutes. In faith, I ask that you restore me emotionally as you have done so logistically in my life, so I never feel depressed again. Amen.