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Mark 9:14-29 "Don't Bring Them to Church, Bring Them to Jesus"
"And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him, and He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"
"Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."
The boy's father came to the disciples but they could not cast out the demon. I can imagine the family at the breakfast table that morning. The mother saying to the father, "I have heard of this new Rabbi, Jesus, they say he has healed many." The father, irritated, "Oh, no. Not this again. Haven't we been through this before?" "But please dear," begs the mother, "for the boy's sake, try one more time." "Ok, Ok, I'll go..." He really does love the boy, and worries what will happen to him. But what was the point, nothing does any good. And just as he thought, when he approached Jesus' disciples, they could do nothing. Even worse he was causing trouble as there were those who used his situation to attack the disciples.
Perhaps you know someone who has given up on the church. They came to check it out, but Christ wasn't there. Or their need wasn't met. Or there were conflicts or arguments and they didn't like the scene. So they left and when you bring up the subject to them they cry out, like the man, saying "Yeah, I brought my problem to Jesus before, but the church couldn't do a thing."
"He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth."
Jesus wasn't jumping on the man for being faithless, he was frustrated with the disciples, the church and the times they lived in. I am sure that Jesus is just as frustrated today if not more so. Because even though we are God's children, we are so little like our Father. I think it was Ghandi who said that he was very tempted to convert to Christianity... if it weren't for the Christians. Our faith is weak, our vision is often out of focus, our love is too often reserved only for those who love us back. We are poor imitations of our Lord and often do more harm than good. If you have been hurt by a church in the past, if you still carry wounds from Christians, if you have been disappointed by a ministry that didn't measure up to the promises that were given. I want to use my position here as a pastor of the church, to apologize to you. Please forgive us the stupid, selfish, worldly things we do.
If you know someone who has given up on the church, Jesus tells us what we should do. Jesus says, "Bring him to Me." Don't bring him to church. He has tried that already and has a bad taste in his mouth. Bring him to Jesus. The church has a very special purpose as the body of Christ, but the church won't save anybody. Please, when you talk to people don't tell them about the wonderful church you attend, tell them about the wonderful Lord. Don't tell them about the miracles that happened when the pastor prayed, tell them about the God who answers prayers, even those of men of little faith.
"So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood, and often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
The man reluctantly asked Jesus, "If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." He didn't think it would do any good, but he decided to give it one more try. Why did this man even bother to ask? Why didn't he just go on home and save himself the embarasement of looking like a fool? Why? Because his son was lying there on the ground. His need was so great that he could not ignore it. He desperately needed help.
I rode home on the train yesterday beside two American military men. I overheard them talking, one man said "Yeah, when I got divorced my parents stopped talking to me. I guess because I am grown up now I don't really need to have a father-son relationship." He looked at his friend and asked, "How's your family?" The other guy said, "My parents divorced when I was a kid and I haven't talked with my mom in two years." They tried to hide it by talking casually about it, but the need of these two men is incredible. Just as apparant as the man's son lying on the ground in a seizure. I was reminded that those who look least likely to have faith, also are the most needy of Christ.
"Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
All the people we have read about with faith have believed that Jesus could do more. They believed that he could heal from a distance, that if they could just touch the hem of his robe, if they could just get the crumbs it would be enough. This man, doubted if Jesus could even do it at all. "If you can do anything" I usually feel much more like this man than like those with great faith. I usually approach prayer with a "if" rather than strong conviction that God will answer. And this is why I am so encouraged by this man.
"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe;" But he knew that he didn't. But he wanted to because he knew he needed help so bad. And then honestly, "help my unbelief!"
"When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him.
Do you want to have faith? Then pray like this man, "Lord, help my unbelief." Let me ask you? When this man went home with his son to his wife that evening did he believe? You bet! If you want to have faith, bring your need to Jesus Christ. Maybe you have had this problem for years. Maybe you have asked for help before but it was no use. Maybe you don't really believe that Jesus will do anything, but bring your need to him anyway and pray, "Jesus, help my unbelief"
Let me share with you the ending of this story. For when Jesus healed the boy, he looked worse than before. In fact everybody standing around him said, "He is dead". Remember the words of Jesus, "Anything is possible" Even if in your situation hope looks dead, our Lord has the power to raise the dead!
"Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose."
Let us pray!
| I have a question... | I want to receive Jesus Christ! | I want to confess sin... |
| I need prayer... | I want to come to church... | I want to be a prayer partner |