“I do believe; help my unbelief,” said the father of the boy with an evil spirit honestly in a reply to Jesus questioning if all things are possible to those who believe.
Yes, I believe!
No, I do not believe but want to believe, help my son!
Jesus cast out the devil that the disciples were unable to although they had been successfully casting out devils as empowered by Christ himself.
“This kind can be cast out in no way except by prayer and fasting,” was Jesus’ explanation!
Prayer can move mountains.
Fasting, or in my case, tracking closely what goes into my body temple, certainly puts me in a clear, present mindset to meditate and pray.
When Jesus shared the second prediction of the passion, the disciples did not understand but were afraid to ask him.
Afraid of what—embarrassment, the answer, Jesus ridiculing them? Did Jesus ever ridicule any one?
I have been afraid to ask certain people if they really loved in fear that the answer would be ‘no.’ What do you say when someone says ‘no, I do not really love you?’
Look at how Jesus responded to betrayal and denial. Don’t react, just act from the inside out. Act from the inside where Jesus is in your heart. In the end we die no matter how much other people love us.
There is no fear in trusting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord.
The disciples were arguing on the way to Capharnaum about which one of them were the greatest. Jesus said “If any man wishes to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
Do not envy but realize that, as Jesus said, “He who is not against you is for you.”
Gentler, more compassion, less violent perspective of the law than in the Old Testament. Bit knowing that the pain of the perpetrator is real and present whether or not the person thinking, saying, or doing something bad. Once aware, the pain that comes from within is the most hurtful, then the pain inflicted on the outside from the avenging victim or society in general. That’s why we need Jesus firmly and securely in our heart and God in our thoughts and The Holy Spirit throughout our being.
A more fire and brimstone God came to the rescue on how to avoid scandal.
“If hand, foot, or eye is an occasion of sin to thee cut it off, cut it off, pluck it out, better for you to enter life, enter into life everlasting, and enter into the kingdom of God then to be cast into hell of unquenchable fire. Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.”
But what is the hand, foot or eye is a thought, a past word spoken, or a past action taken only to be regretted?
Cut it out, pluck it out of your memory. There is no further use for it.
The Old Testament, in light of the New Testament, reveals that our creating God was and is always first a loving, compassionate and accepting God that will never abandon us. He never did trying as he did to share his wisdom and design for life.
There is a new covenant, a new opportunity each and every day we wake up to.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
Forget about messing up yesterday or fearing tragedy coming tomorrow.
Today is the day, let’s live it with God’s power and in His direction!
Amen. Al-le-lu-ia!
Day 42: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; “I do Believe, Help my Unbelief!”
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Mark Chapter 9.
Bible Notes:
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark
Saint Mark, a convert of Saint Peter, was the son of a certain Mary, whose house in Jerusalem was a gathering place for Christians.
His Gospel, based on Saint Peter’s preaching, aims to prove to the Gentiles the divinity of Christ, be recounting His numerous miracles and examples of His power over devils.
Matthew Chapter 9: Jesus transfigured; On the coming of Elias; Disciples unable to cast out devil; The faith of the possessed boy’s father; Jesus casts out the devil; The second prediction of the passion; Against ambition; Against envy; Avoiding scandal.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a mountain off by themselves, and was transfigured before them.
And there appeared to them Elias with Moses, and they were talking to Jesus.
For they were struck with fear
“This is my beloved Son; hear him.”
When he shall have risen from the dead,” might mean…
My son, who has a dumb spirit
Have compassion on us and help us
“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
I do believe; help my unbelief.
“Thou deaf and dumb spirit, I command thee, go out of him and enter him no more.”
“This kind can be cast out in no way except by prayer and fasting.”
When Jesus shared the second prediction of the passion, the disciples did not understand but were afraid to ask him.
The disciples were arguing on the way to Capharnaum about which one of them were the greatest. Jesus said “If any man wishes to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
“Whoever receives one such little child for my sake, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
“For he who is not against you is for you.”
“If hand, foot, or eye is an occasion of sin to thee cut it off, cut it off, pluck it out, better for you to enter life, enter into life everlasting, and enter into the kingdom of God then to be cast into hell of unquenchable fire. Where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.”
Speak Your Mind