Matthew 19:17-24

“Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” ” ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Doug McCoy, Minister
First Christian Church of Pleasant Hill

A tightrope walker was performing at Niagara Falls in front of a crowd. After walking a rope across the falls a few times, this tightrope walker produced a wheelbarrow. He then asked if anyone in the crowd believed he could push that wheelbarrow all the way across the rope to the other side. Everyone in the crowd said they did. At this, the tightrope walker then asked if anyone in the crowd believed enough to ride in the wheelbarrow as he pushed it all the way across the rope to the other side. No one in the crowd did. They believed but not fully; they believed but not quite; they believed but not enough to get in the wheelbarrow.

Here in Mark 9, we see that very same phenomenon to varying degrees. The teachers of the law did not believe at all; the argument they were having with the disciples was probably an argument against Jesus. The people believed in Jesus, but only superficially; they merely believed He could work miracles. The disciples faltered in their belief when challenged; they were unable to heal the boy because they lacked faith. The boy’s father vacillated between believing and not believing; he admitted that he believed but needed help with his unbelief.

And we see this very same phenomenon to these very same degrees among ourselves as well. At times we are like the teachers of the law; at other times like the people; at still other times like the disciples; and at even other times like the father. And while this is understandable or natural (as perhaps evidenced by the fact that Jesus did not rebuke anyone too harshly here), it is not ideal. Ideal is full, complete, whole belief; ideal is getting in the wheelbarrow.

We believe, Lord. Help us with our unbelief. Help us have the faith to get in the wheelbarrow.

Mark 9:2-9

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

Rev. Layne Kilbreath
Faith Christian Fellowship (Walnut Creek)

Often, I ask God to resurrect some of my relationships. Here, we’re invited to remember that if Jesus is King of our lives, we’re on a continuous personal journey from death to resurrection. Like me, Peter wants to avoid this journey. He asks to set up tents so neither he nor Jesus will have to die. God responds from the clouds: “This is my Son, Listen to Him!” Accept that Jesus’ way goes through death and starts with a promise: “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1). Peter saw this power in a shining, resurrected and perfected Moses and Elijah. Jesus? He was already perfect.

I searched the text for ways to resurrect some of my relationships and avoid death. I couldn’t find one. Instead, I was challenged to listen and to obey King Jesus and to kill my pride. Shortly after Matthew’s record of this story, Jesus says, “If I’m your King, listen to me: Ask me to change your heart to be a person pursuing reconciliation. When you hurt someone, ask forgiveness. When you’re hurt, offended or sinned against, be courageous, don’t stuff it inside or let it leak out with gossip. Drown your pride and go to the person one-on-one, vulnerably pursuing reconciliation and trust me for reconciliation and resurrection.” (Matthew 18:15) This is an impossible challenge for imperfect people unless God resurrects us. It’s often easier to get angry or leak, and it doesn’t always work in our way or in our time.

Father, we cannot guarantee reconciliation or manipulate you, so help us trust you as King and experience resurrection in our lives today. Amen.

Mark 8:31-33

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Rev. Mary Holder Naegeli
Adjunct Instructor, Fuller Seminary

It is tempting to think that when we come to know Christ—perhaps at a time of great trouble or trial—life circumstances should suddenly improve or personal needs be met. For many, the stated reason for entering into relationship with the Savior is to feel better, attain inner peace, overcome an addiction, or otherwise experience a better life. [Think about what you have expected of Jesus in the last week or two!] This desire is not entirely bad, but should be held lightly and cautiously. To the person who thinks that life in Christ guarantees painless existence, unchallenged assumptions, or self-gratification, today’s passage points to an upside-down reality. Jesus says, “Losing is saving” and “It’s not about you!”

If one views Jesus Christ only as the winnertakeall, victorious, overcoming Messiah—the prevailing view of the expected Anointed One—one is baffled by the Suffering Servant (the picture Isaiah envisions in Is 53:2b5). Even Peter was illprepared to accept Jesus’ notion that he was to accomplish his Messiah role through rejection, suffering, and execution. And Jesus rebuked him in front of the others—it was that important to set the record straight!

So the question for us is this: Have we failed to recognize that Christ fulfilled his role through suffering and that his disciples, walking in his footsteps, must also bear their crosses for the sake of the Kingdom? Are we holding on to the Christian Life only as a means of personal profit or benefit, or have we accepted the cross of selfdenial (putting other people first, denying our own priority or needs)? What we are “guaranteed” is that Jesus is walking alongside us even through the troubles, and from that position is doing some of the heavy lifting to make his “yoke easy and burden light.” (Mt 11:30).

Lord, life’s burdens are too heavy for me to carry alone, but I bear them willingly if doing so will witness to your suffering and death for my salvation and the world’s redemption.