In the book of Mark, a story is recorded of a father who has been seeking help for his son. Since childhood, the boy could not speak and repeatedly was thrown to the ground in what is described as fits, or what most of us would see and call a seizure. He would foam at the mouth and grind his teeth, unable to control himself. The father was desperate. He loved his son and didn’t know what to do, so when the miracle worker arrived, he immediately took the boy to see him. Sadly, the miracle worker’s disciples could do nothing for him; the unclean spirit that caused the problem remained despite their efforts, and the father was left hopeless again. His last hope in saving his son arrived as Jesus came down from the mountain, swarmed by the crowd that had gathered. I imagine the father fighting through the crowd, just trying to get to Jesus. Imagine his emotions, fear, anxiety, and anger; after all, the disciples were supposed to have the same power as the teacher, and he watched them fail to do anything. Would this so-called miracle worker be any different? Picture him reaching the front of the crowd, looking at Jesus, his heart broken as every memory of his son races through his mind. Every time the boy nearly drowned or was almost burned alive in a fire, it had to have been repeating itself in his mind. “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” The boy’s father cried out, broken and defeated. He knew Jesus had done miracles; he had probably met the blind who could now see or saw the lame walking, but at this moment, every doubt he had ever had or heard about this Jesus of Nazareth had to have been at the forefront of his mind. “If you can? All things are possible to him who believes.” Jesus responded. Jesus was watching the boy convulse on the ground, foaming at the mouth. I believe Jesus felt that father’s pain but understood the example He had to set. “I do believe; help my unbelief.” The father said, defeated. If anything would help his unbelief, it would be the healing of his son. The father had heard of and most likely had seen Jesus’ miracles, but now it was he who needed the miracle. He needed Jesus, and even though the lies of unbelief flooded his heart and mind, he stood before the only man who could help. Jesus did just that, and by casting out the unclean spirit, the boy was healed.
Have you ever doubted Jesus? Do you have questions but are too afraid to ask because you think God might find it disrespectful? Has the idea of “just have faith you don’t need evidence” been drilled into your mind since childhood? If yes, I can relate. I used to think it was wrong to question God, and if I had doubts, I was doing something wrong, but the interaction Jesus has with this man proves that He understands our doubts. We serve the true God; if He is who the Bible says He is, then He is big enough to take on our greatest doubts. Feel free to contact me with any questions, fears, or struggles that may be leading you to doubt. God loves you so much that He has already provided the answers.