Help Me Believe

Help Me Believe

Q: What did the demons do to the boy they possessed?

• a. forced him to sing and babble
• b. caused him to run away
• c. threw him into fire and water

One day a father brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples to be healed. But the disciples couldn’t force the demons to leave the boy. The religious leaders criticized the disciples for not having any power.

Then Jesus arrived. He rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. The boy’s father told Jesus the demons would make the boy fall into fire and water. “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can,” the father said.

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

“I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” the father said, and Jesus healed the boy.

This story shows that there are different kinds of faith. The disciples didn’t claim God’s power, and they tried to heal the boy on their own. Their faith was in their own abilities, and that’s why they couldn’t make the demons leave the boy.

The religious leaders didn’t have a real faith in Jesus. They questioned his authority and doubted his power.

The father wanted to believe, but his faith wavered. He wanted to believe, but the disciples’ failure had caused him to doubt.

People today are the same. Some have faith in themselves. Some question or doubt Jesus. And some have wavering faith.

For You

Your faith may waver at times, or you may find yourself trying to do God’s work without asking him for his help. Ask Jesus to give you faith, and do God’s work through Jesus’ strength—not your own.

Answer: c

[The boy’s father said to Jesus,] “The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”   Mark 9:22-24

(The Whole Story: Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-43)