Mark 9:20-24

And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Like the father, do we too find it difficult to believe? But if so, we too can cry for help in believing like he did.

And Yeshu loves belief; he longs for and waits for our cry of faith.

 

 

Mark 9:14-19

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 

When Yeshu said, ‘You faithless generation!’, of whom did he speak? was it the disciples because they were unable to cast out the demon? or was it the father of the boy? Perhaps the critical attitude of the scribes had affected everyone, both the father and the crowd and the disciples.

You may be able to decide the answer if you read on.

Mark 9:11-13

And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

In answer Yeshu said, ‘The scribes are right. Elijah did indeed come first before me the Messiah (Elijah came in the form of the reformer John the Baptist).’

He added, ‘Elijah came first, and Elijah was killed. I then came; and what else is written in scripture? It says those things too will be done to me.’