Dependence

Mark 9:14-29
    14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about? ”
17 Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
 19 He replied to them, “You unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” 20 So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.  21 “How long has this been happening to him? ” Jesus asked his father.
“From childhood,” he said. 22 “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
 23 Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.”
 24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief! ”
 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.”
 26 Then it came out, shrieking and throwing him into terrible convulsions. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.
 28 After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out? ”
 29 And he told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer.”



 

GOING DEEPER
Parallel, Related and Referenced Passages
Parallel Accounts: Matthew 17:14-21; Luke 9:37-42
 
1) HUMAN INABILITY

• Exodus 32 — Moses coming down from the mountain
• Mark 6:45–52 — Jesus coming down from the mountain
• Romans 7:18 — human inability in the flesh
• Psalm 121:1–2 — help must come from the Lord
• 2 Cor. 12:9–10 — God’s power made perfect in weakness.
• Jeremiah 17:5, 7 — contrast in trusting self & trusting the Lord.
• Proverbs 3:5–6 — do not lean on your own understanding.

2) HONEST STRUGGLE

• Luke 17:5–6 — “Increase our faith.”
• Matthew 17:20 — faith like a mustard seed moving mountains.
• Psalm 73:26 — strength failing, God remains our strength.
• Psalm 62:8 — pour out your heart before Him.
• Heb. 4:15–16 — come boldly for mercy & help in time of need.

3) SAVING POWER

• John 8:34 — “Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.”
• Romans 5:8 — “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• Genesis 50:20 — God bringing good out of evil.
• Romans 8:28 — God working all things together for good.
• Acts 2:23–24 — the cross as the greatest evil overruled for God’s saving purpose.
• 1 Cor. 15:3–4 — death and resurrection at the center of the gospel.
• Ephesians 2:1–5 — from death to life by God’s saving action.
• Ephesians 3:20 — He is able to do above all we ask or think.

4) THE WALK OF DEPENDENCE

• John 14:12 — disciples doing the works of Christ.
• John 15:5 — “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
• Philippians 4:6–7 — taking everything to God in prayer.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 — “pray without ceasing.”
• Ephesians 6:18 — praying at all times.
• 2 Chron. 20:12 — “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

CONSIDER

1.    Why does Jesus focus on unbelief instead of just the disciples’ inability?  What’s the difference?

2.    What do we learn from “I believe; help my unbelief”?  What does that say about what real faith looks like?

3.    Jesus says this situation required prayer.  What does that show about what the disciples were missing?

4.    When you hit spiritual failure, where do you tend to go first?  Despair (i.e. “It’s no use.”) or Defiance?  (i.e.“I’ll just try harder”) What causes you to turn and Depend on Him?

5.    Where in your life do you most resonate with the father’s cry, “I believe; help my unbelief?”

6.    What is something you’ve previously or are currently trying to handle on your own instead of bringing to Jesus?  What does it look like to depend on Him instead?

7.    What’s one specific thing you can bring to Jesus in prayer this week instead of carrying it alone?