PENTECOST 16 – Sept. 12, 2021 – Mark 9:14-29
“IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Mark 9. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- This incident in our text occurs immediately following the Transfiguration of Jesus, a revelation of His glory to Peter, James, and John. They are coming down the Mount when they “came to the disciples” who were arguing with the Scribes, impotent to expel a demon.
- What we see in our text is that the ministry of the church, and of servants of the church, Jesus’ own disciples, “IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.” There will be setbacks. There will be arguments with enemies of the Gospel, strong religionists who want to dispute with and destroy the power of our testimony to Jesus.
- Imagine these poor 9 disciples, one of whom was Judas, the unbeliever. Imagine their shock when they couldn’t cast out this demon. After all, Jesus had commissioned them previously and sent them out and we read that: “They went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.” [Mark 6:12,13] How could it be that suddenly they failed?
- I must say that there is some mystery here in this incident. Jesus’ response upon hearing the circumstances is difficult: “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you?” He seems to be castigating His disciples as well, who were unsuccessful in performing the exorcism. However, when they asked Jesus privately He acknowledged: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” We’ll work on all of this as we go along in the sermon, but it is apparent from this that “IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY” for disciples, nor for you and I, in our life within the church.
I. Jesus Had Only Been Absent A Short Time For His Transfiguration
A. He Did Take The Three Main Disciples With Him
Mark 9:2 “And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them.”
B. This Included Peter Who Had Just Rebuked Jesus For Predicting His Crucifixion, Death, And Resurrection
Mark 8:31,32 “ And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He said this plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.”
Statement: Again, we see that life within the church, even with the disciples, was not “ALWAYS EASY.” The wonderful thing about the Holy Scripture, including the Gospels, is that the heroes are described with all their sins and weaknesses. The disciples were the main heroes of bringing about and building up the church that Jesus had established and begun. And yet here they are, rejecting the Word of Jesus, rejecting Christ’s act of atonement, and in our text, flubbing up an exorcism!
Application: It is no different within the life of the church today. If I were to count up all the things that would predict failure for the church, they would far outweigh the positives. Except for one thing – Jesus, His Word, His promises, and His governance of all things. So we too must take care not to become a “faithless generation” even when we see that “IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY,” our life within the church. So we should note that:
II. The Other Nine Disciples [or likely eight] Had Some Faith – They Did Attempt The Exorcism
A. But Apparently Not Enough Faith
Text: “O faithfuless generation!”
B. And Apparently, They Had Not Prayed Enough, Or At All
Text: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
Statement: Again, this brings up difficulties too profound for us to fully grasp and fathom. Jesus makes clear that it is not the amount of faith that we have that enables us to receive His blessings and to do wondrous things. You remember that He said: “If you have faith like a grain of mustard see, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.’” [Matt. 17:20] Likewise, Scripture assures us that: “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” [James 5:16]
Application: But the mystery here makes clear to us that “IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY” within the church, as we try to carry out the good and gracious will of God and abide by His Word. Even when seeking to do good we will run into opposition, hardships, seeming contradictions to the Word of God, and apparent failure. All of this is deeply discouraging to us – as I’m sure the disciples were not only shocked but also discouraged by their failure! But in this incident we learn that our failures do not matter. What matters is that:
III. With Jesus, All Things Are Possible
Luke 1:37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Mark 10:27 “And Jesus looking upon them said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.’”
A. All Is Also Possible For Us If We Believe
Text: “Jesus said to him, ‘If you can? All things are possible for the one who believes.’”
Matt. 17:20 “If you have faith like a grain of mustard see, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.’”
B. We Confess That Along With Our Faith We Also Struggle With Unbelief
Text: “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’”
Statement: This is “simul justus et peccator.” At the same time we are sinner and saint.” So there is also mystery here regarding our own faith. Do we have even so much faith as a mustard seed? I confess that it often appears not. However, regardless of the amount of faith we have, we are assured of God’s gracious mercy, His forgiveness, inclusion in the kingdom of God, and the power and strength to do His will, whatever He calls upon us to accomplish. He comforts us: “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” [Phil. 4:13]
Application: So we also pray: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” Often we pray God to give us greater and stronger faith. And Jesus assures us: “All things are possible for the one who believes.” But “IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY” even when we think we have adequate faith and courage. So we are pressed to be constant in our prayer and reliance upon God.
Conclusion: Glorious and wondrous things were happening all around the disciples. They had been granted power to cast out demons, even though they could not on this occasion. They had heard the good news from Jesus, that He was the Lamb of God Who would suffer and die on the cross to take away the sin of the world. Three of the disciples had seen Him in at least a glimpse of His glory in the transfiguration.
Jesus would continue to instruct them, train them, encourage them, and ultimately empower them to build His church. They often fumbled and stumbled and bumbled – just as we do today! But let us continue in His Word, that we may know the truth and be set free by that truth. The truth will also enable us to endure and persevere even when “IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.” God grant it to each of us, Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep you hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.