5. A HALF-HEARTED BELIEVER (Mark.9:14-29)
BACKGROUND:
A person with an evil spirit is often called possessed. This is something different from having a mental
disease, epilepsy etc. An evil spirit can never take possession of a person who believes in Jesus and is baptized in his
name, because the Holy Spirit is already dwelling in his heart. According to Luke, the boy in this text was the only
child of his parents
(Luke 9:38).
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Imagine what the everyday life of this father was like since his son became possessed by an evil spirit (17-18,
20-22). (Consider the relationship of this father with his wife, his other children, neighbors, God. What were his fears
concerning the future of his family? What kind of attempts may he have made to get his son healed?)
- Compare the life of the boy with that of his peers (17-18, 20-22).
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What was perhaps the most difficult thing for the father in the situation described in verses 14-18?
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Whom did Jesus refer to when speaking of the unbelieving generation that he found so hard to put up with (19)?
- Why was it so hard for Jesus to stand the unbelief of the people in this particular situation (19)?
- How do you think Jesus would call our generation?
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Why did the father include himself in his cry for help: "Take pity on us and help us" (22b)?
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In verse 23 Jesus seems to demand unwavering faith from the father. Why is that?
- How would you feel if someone demanded a perfect faith from you when you already were distressed?
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What did this father believe and what did he doubt while crying out his prayer in verse 24?
- What did you believe and what did you doubt when you last cried for help from Jesus concerning the problems of your
loved ones?
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Did this cry for help prove that the father already had a saving faith or not (24)? Give your reasons.
- When do you think the father became a believer in Jesus? Discuss various possibilities.
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Why did Jesus help this family, although neither the father nor the son had an unwavering faith (25)?
- By whose faith did this miracle happen?
- How much faith would be needed in order that Jesus could help your loved ones in their sufferings?
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It is probable that the father thought his son had already died when he was lying lifeless on the ground (26). Why
did he have to experience that excruciating moment before Jesus helped him? (What would the father have failed to learn
if he had been helped by Jesus sooner?)
- Why does Jesus often allow us to end up in a desperate situation before he interferes?
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"Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet" (27). Put in this sentence the name of the person you are
worried about. What does verse 27 say to you when you read it like that?
GLAD TIDINGS:
Even when evil people and evil spirits tortured Jesus, he still believed in the power and love of his
Heavenly Father with an unwavering faith. Because of his perfect faith, we also can receive help from him, in spite of
our doubt.