Mark 7

Introduction

Do you remember a person from your childhood that you thought could do anything? Sometimes it is a parent—mother or father who exhibits great strength and ingenuity. “My dad can do anything.” Sometimes it is a peer who seems to always be on top. The best athlete; the smartest; the most popular. Do you remember when you found out it wasn’t true? My dad was and still is a strong man—physically and in terms of his determination. 75 and has his own lawn business with one employee—himself. But I remember the day when dad couldn’t do something that he had always done and I knew his strength was limited. The smartest guy in the high school I attended chose the path of drugs and abuse.

Expectations are not always met. We have an image of someone that can be destroyed in those moments when we understand that human beings are not perfect. Jesus’ disciples had expectations as well. From 8:31–10:52 is a complete section in which Mark describes the trip from Galilee to Jerusalem. The focus of this trip is highlighted by three occasions when Jesus describes what is going to happen to him. In 8:31–33, 9:30–32, and 10:32–34, Jesus warns the disciples about the events which are to transpire in Jerusalem. With each warning comes a story in which Jesus calls on commitment to continuing the journey. This is not accidental. Mark is trying to demonstrate to the readers the commitment and endurance which were required in order to follow Jesus. Part of the issue is that Jesus’ warnings about Jerusalem and what will happen there do not measure up to the disciples’ expectations.

In Mark 8:32, Peter rebukes Jesus for talking about his death. And Jesus rebukes Peter in return even calling him Satan. In 9:9, as Jesus and Peter, James, and John are coming down from the mountain, Jesus tells these three to keep the experience of the Transfiguration silent until he had risen from the dead. And 9:10 tells us that they didn’t understand what he meant. In 9:31–32, Jesus again tells them that he is going to be betrayed, killed, and raised from the dead but the disciples did not understand what he meant. In 10:32–34, Jesus again tells about his impending death and in 10:35–37, James and John hear that and ask for places of prominence when Jesus comes into his kingdom.

Unmet expectations. Our text today demonstrates that Jesus is the only one who can meet our true expectations. As we focus on him today, may we be reminded to place our faith in Jesus and trust him alone.

A Confused Father

Jesus and three of his disciples have come down from the mountain. He sees his remaining disciples and the teachers of the law arguing about something. More than likely they are arguing about the failed attempt of the disciples to cast out a demon. Only God could give the authority to cast out demons. So the father explains the situation. He came to the disciples for help because they were connected to Jesus. They had tried and failed to heal his son.

Mark reveals for us that Jesus recognizes a great truth—his time is short and it is time for his disciples to step up. But their faith is weak even on good days. The boy is brought to Jesus and right on cue, Satan attacks the child. Stop here. This is not just about Jesus healing another person. This is evil attacking the child since he was very young. Like any concerned father, this boy’s father has tried everything. He has watched in utter disbelief as his son has been hurt, burned, and almost drowned. Evil has taken over and the father is looking for relief. This boy is thrashing and writhing at the feet of Jesus. It is a horrible sight. And a father who has seen this too many times looks to Jesus and says “If you can do anything, please help us.”

Don’t rush through this man’s anguish. This is a man who is desperate. A man who came to the disciples looking for help and didn’t get it. A man who has reached the end of his rope. He doesn’t need a platitude. “Tie a knot in the end of your rope and hang on.” “Things are going to get better.” He has sought answers. This is beyond his power. This is a man who is close to giving up. This is a man who has exhausted all other possibilities. “If you can do anything” is not only a statement of doubt but a statement of despair. It is a statement from a man who is exhausted—looking for answers when he doesn’t believe that there is an answer. Verse 24 verifies that. “Help my unbelief.”

Jesus’ response in verse 23 is a continuation of his compassion. Verse 21 “How long has he been like this?” is not a question for information. Hear it through the ears of person who is saying something much more profound. “How long have you had to deal with this?” “How long have you and this boy been under attack?” Hear the compassion. “If you can?” In my mind, I see Jesus looking deeply into the father’s eyes. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” It isn’t merely that the father needs to have faith, even the father recognizes that his faith is weak, it is the placement of that faith. Is the father willing to trust Jesus?

Jesus heals the boy and in a precursor to what is to come, the boy appears to be dead. Jesus raises the boy to his feet and brings him back to life. Mark uses the same word in 9:27 translated “lifted” as the word in Mark 16:6 “risen” in describing Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. And Jesus speaks again of what is going to happen soon but the disciples are lost.

Power

It is very easy to take this text and begin talking about the need for us to increase our faith. And that is certainly valid. Our faith indeed needs to be strong and enduring. But that misses the point of what is happening here. This is about Jesus. Mark wrote in 1:1, this story is about Jesus. Every event reflects Jesus. What Mark is revealing to us is the power of Jesus over evil. Yes, the father’s faith is questioned. Yes, the disciples seem powerless. But notice what Mark tells us in verse 29, this was a special situation.

The real point of the story is the compassion and power of Jesus to deal with evil. From the transfiguration, Jesus finds himself in the middle of an argument about healing a boy and the argument is missing the point. The boy needs to be healed and God is the only one who can heal him. While the religious folks and disciples argue about who has the authority to heal, Jesus knows that evil must be dealt with. This explains his frustration with those who argue and miss the point. Only God has the power to deal with evil.

As a precursor to his own rejection and death, Jesus is in a battle with evil. A child who is made in the image of God has been overtaken by one whose only desire is to crush God’s image. The evil one has attacked and others argue about who has the authority to tackle the evil one. And here stands Jesus who pushes aside the argument to deal with evil head on. The Jesus who was exalted on the mountain and whom God verified as the only one worthy of being listened to comes face to face with the power of the evil one in the body of a child. And Jesus not only heals the boy but tells the evil one that he cannot ever attack this child again (v. 25).

Jesus is the one who has real power. Under attack from the evil one? Jesus is the one who can protect. At the end of your rope? Turn to Jesus. In despair. Hopeless. Losing strength. You need Jesus. Walk in faith. Walk with confidence. Someone says, but I have prayed and prayed and I am still stuck. Even Jesus didn’t stop the cross. But the power of the resurrection comes through Jesus. It was at the cross and the empty tomb that Jesus demonstrated once for all that power over death and despair is found in him. Trusting him doesn’t mean that all problems go away, but it does mean that you walk with assurance that your strength comes from Jesus who understands, has compassion, and reminds you that he has overcome evil.

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