Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost 9/16/12

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost 9/16/12 Text: Mark 9:14-29 Title: Jesus; Cure For A Bad Case Of Unbelief I am sure that most of you are familiar with Jeff Foxworthy’s saying, “If you (he would fill in the blank) then you just might be a redneck. Most of what he says is really funny because there is some truth in his example. I would put to you this morning that “If you have a hard time understanding the Bible, you just might be a sinner.” Not being able to understand the Word of God troubles a lot of Christians, so to relieve guilt they do the easiest thing, they just don’t read the Bible. It sounds like that would work except it doesn’t. It only adds guilt because we know that we should be reading God’s Word every day. Satan loves it when someone refuses to read and meditate on the Word of God, for he knows that they even while they don’t think they are, are walking away from God. There are not too many times, in fact they are pretty rare, when I am reading the Bible that I don’t have questions because I don’t fully understand what I am reading. There can be many reasons; maybe I am rushing through the text, maybe I am not open to hear God’s Word that day, especially if I don’t like what it says, or maybe it is a passage or story that before I can understand it I need to read other passages that will open up the passage. All that proves to me is that I am a sinner. It took me several years of reading a Psalm every day before I began to truly love reading the Psalms. When I read this morning’s Gospel lesson last Sunday night, as is my custom, I had a question; in fact I had many questions. I was glad this week for the opportunity to study the text with other Christians, especially the Elders and the Wednesday night study group, for through our working through the text, I started to understand the questions and doubts that I had concerning the reason God had these particular words written down for those whom he loves. Reading and studying the Bible together is a wonderful experience, as it helps us through the collective wisdom and life experiences of those in the group to open up God’s Word. Come on Wednesday night at 7pm. Or, come on Sunday morning as we study and meditate on the book of Acts. One of the best ways to study God’s Word is to read what is taking place several verses before the reading you are studying. By reading the verses before our Gospel reading for today you will notice that it takes place after Jesus had given his disciples the authority to drive out evil spirits. They had just come back reporting to Jesus how successful they had been. They were on a high. Jesus spent some time talking to them about his mission; trying to get them to understand just who he was and what he was going to do. When the time was right, leaving most of his disciples in town, Jesus with James, Peter, and John left for the holy mountain where he would be transfigured, that is the glory of God was shown in him. His clothing and body shined as bright as the son. They then headed down the mountain, so that they could meet up with the other disciples. That is where our Gospel lesson for today picks up with Jesus, James, John, and Peter arriving in town. The first thing they see is a crowd listening to the disciples he had left in town and the scribes; that is the learned men of the town having an argument. We are not told what it is, but it probably had something to do with why they could not drive the spirit from the boy. That is the first thing I don’t understand. Why could they not do it? Jesus had given them the authority and they had been successful before. Why not now? It is clear that they did not understand it either for towards the end of our gospel reading for today we hear them ask Jesus, “Why could we not cast it out?” Then Jesus said something that I did not understand, “This kind cannot be driven out by any means except prayer.” But the most baffling statement to me, showing that I just might be a sinner, is when the father of the child cried out: “I believe; help my unbelief!” I really didn’t understand that! You either belief or you don’t. But through the Bible study with the Elders and the Wednesday night group I came to understand what that man meant when he said, “I believe; help my unbelief.” The child’s father is being honest with Jesus. He is pretty confident Jesus can do what he is asking him to do, that is why he asked him to heal his son, but he does not have full confidence that Jesus will do it, for after all his disciples who had driven out evil spirits couldn’t help his son. I too, and I think we all do it, just like that father struggle at times in my unbelief. I have faith that Jesus is going to do what he has promised he will do, yet I too don’t always have full confidence in him. I, in my weakness of faith can empathize with others who struggle with their belief which is pretty important if you are a pastor. But I because of my struggles can also tell them some wonderful news; something that can be of help in their unbelief. I can tell them that because with Jesus faith they will get past it even as they struggle with their faith. The Lord Jesus, our Great Physician, wants to help us with our unbelief. Just as the disciples, and the apostles, we are all infected with unbelief. We are all carriers of unbelief, whether we’re showing outward symptoms or not. Perhaps you came to church this morning with a little touch of the unbelief. No headache or sore throat, nothing that can be outwardly seen, but inwardly you came this morning with a general inability to grasp and trust God’s Word. Maybe that is how you felt this morning, maybe that is how you have felt for a long time, but don’t despair, for Jesus can do something about that. And it’s really important that he does, because just a little touch of the unbelief can kill you forever. The father of this child is conflicted in his beliefs. He has his doubts but he also has his hope. He says to Jesus: “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23 And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" Now that’s what you call “hoping against hope” or maybe it’s believing in spite of doubt. Wouldn’t it be great, if we sinners, we who have all come down with a case of common unbelief, could all get one answer that explains everything we don’t understand and cures us of the common unbelief? Well we do, for Jesus says: “All things are possible to Him who believes.” But who is that? Not us! We are all born with not just a common unbelief, but a terminal case of unbelief. We don’t fear, love and trust in God above all things. We have doubts. Our inborn ailment causes us to trust in almost anything but God. We have other gods that we trust in; like our own ability, or money, or relationships. Nevertheless, like the father in our Gospel lesson, we dare to hope for a cure. And like this hopeful father, we know who to ask for help with our unbelief. So the question Jesus asked this boy’s father is a good fit for us too. We approach the promises of Scripture with a lot of questions, for there are a lot of things we don’t understand, a lot of doubt; a nasty case of unbelief. “If you can” is always in the back of our minds when we read, if we even read the Bible. So Jesus asks you now: “Did you get all dressed up for nothing’ this morning? Why did you come? What do you seek? Do you believe or not? I will help you with your unbelief, for all things are possible to him who believes.” For you see Jesus is talking about his belief not your belief, for who among us believes as Jesus believes? Who trusts in God more than Jesus trusted in God. Jesus not only trusted his Father for all of his ministry tasks, for his direction and strength, Jesus trusted God with his life, even with his death, even death on a cross and for his resurrection, and yes even his being raised in glory to his Father’s right hand. So, if you are like me and need help with your unbelief, Jesus the living Word of God is the one to turn toward. Let’s go back to the beginning of the sermon. The reason why we have such a hard time understanding the Bible is not that the Bible isn’t clear; it is that we are sinners who are foolish and slow of heart to believe just like the apostles who couldn’t cast out this evil spirit because of their lack of faith! Who thought they had the power. So, the reason why I didn’t understand some things in God’s Word is because when I read them I have a bad case of unbelief. The reason why I understand them now is because, “All things are possible to him who believes.” And I mean Jesus, first and foremost, is the one who perfectly believes. So, even though we struggle at times with God’s Word, being sinners and all, we know in our weakness that Jesus is strong and that all things are possible for our Savior who is faithful to do all that he has promised. Amen.