15 April 2018
I. Introduction
-- turn
in Bibles to Mark 9:14-27
14 When they came to the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with
them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder
and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?”
he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I
brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
18 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.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus
replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?
Bring the boy to me.”
20 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.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long
has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “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.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything
is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed,
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running
to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he
said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently
and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
--
several years ago, I had to go to a conference for my job -- when I got on the
plane in Valdosta, there was a raging thunderstorm -- lightning was crackling
all around as we ran to get on the plane -- rain was hitting the side windows
-- it almost sounded like hail -- I was surprised that they even let the plane
take off
-- and
once we were in the air, it got even worse -- the turbulence was the worst I
had ever experienced -- the plane was just shaking and jumping and bouncing --
and, I’m not that comfortable flying on a good day -- and here I was, in the
middle of a storm and lurching around and, frankly, I was worried for my life
-- the
pilot took the plane steadily up and up and up, which wasn’t normal for the
flight from Valdosta to Atlanta -- usually, we would stay pretty low and you
could look around as you flew -- but, today, he took an upward track and we
just kept going up and up -- finally, we broke through the clouds and emerged
in the middle of blue sky -- the sun was shining -- there was no rain -- no
storm
-- I
looked below me and I could see the dark thunderclouds underneath the plane --
but, where we were, it was smooth and sunny
-- I
learned a lesson that day -- even though you may be experiencing storms in your
life -- even though you may be in a frightful position and you don’t know how
you’re going to survive -- there is sunshine and blue skies just on the other
side
-- this
morning, I wanted us to look at a passage from the Book of Mark -- it’s a
familiar passage to us -- the healing of a boy with an evil spirit -- it
happens right after the Transfiguration -- when Jesus went up on the
mountainside with James, John, and Peter and was transfigured before them and
spoke with Elijah and Moses
-- now
one thing we have to be careful of when we read or hear familiar passages like
this is jumping too far ahead -- that’s a problem when you know the rest of the
story -- but, I want you to put yourself in this story and not jump ahead to
the end, because there’s a lesson there for us today about storm clouds and
sunshine
II. The Middle of a Miracle
-- if
you would, look back with me at verse 14-22
14 When they came to the other disciples,
they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with
them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder
and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?”
he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I
brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
18 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.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus
replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?
Bring the boy to me.”
20 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.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long
has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “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.”
-- when
Jesus and His disciples made it back to where the other disciples were waiting
for them, they found a huge crowd gathered there and an argument going on
between the disciples and the teachers of the law
-- a man
was in the midst of a major crisis -- he was in middle of a storm -- and he
didn’t know what to do -- his son was possessed by an evil spirit which caused
him to have seizures and put him into danger -- even throwing him into fire or
water to kill him -- this had been going on his whole life
-- the
father had obviously heard of Jesus and of the miracles that happened when
Jesus was around, so he had asked the disciples if they could help -- if they
could cast the demon out and heal his son -- and, to their credit, even though
Jesus wasn’t there, the disciples tried to help -- but were unable to drive the
spirit out
-- their
failure was an opportunity for the teachers of the law to criticize and
complain yet again -- we read in the gospels that the teachers of the law had
been critical of Jesus and His disciples -- they had said that His actions were
not done in accordance with the law of Moses -- and they evidently jumped on
the failure of the disciples to cast out the demon as a way to make their point
once again
-- this argument
that Jesus walked up on shows us that when we have a problem -- when we are in
the midst of a storm -- some people will use this opportunity to criticize and
to divide and to create discord -- some people just want to cause drama anytime
they get the opportunity
-- just
think about Job’s experience from the Old Testament -- when God allowed Satan
to afflict Job as a means of testing Job, Job’s three friends came to meet with
him, and all they did was criticize him and accuse him of being a sinner, and
they didn’t offer any true help or support in the midst of Job’s need
--
that’s what we’re seeing here in the start of this story -- and that’s what a
lot of us experience when we’re in the midst of a storm -- people like to offer
unconstructive criticism -- they like to tell us what to do -- they like to
make us think we’re the problem and the source of all our woes -- they like to
cast blame -- but, rarely, do they actually do anything to truly help
-- but,
that’s not the main point I want you to see -- look at the father in this
passage -- listen to his words -- feel his hurt and his pain -- here was his
son in constant agony -- possessed by an unclean spirit -- put in danger time
and time again -- and it seems like no one can help -- all they want to do is
complain and argue and fight
-- this
man’s hope just got dashed yet once again -- the storm clouds have intensified
around him and his son -- once again, what little hope he had of seeing his son
healed was gone --- and it seems like no one really cares -- all they’re doing
now is standing around arguing with each other over who is right while his son
still suffers
-- that’s
the way it feels when you’re in the midst of a storm -- when you’re in the
midst of a storm, you feel alone -- when you are in the midst of a storm --
when you’re facing trials and tribulations that just seem unbearable -- it’s
hard to believe you’re ever going to find your way out again -- that you’ll
ever see the sun shine again
-- we
all face storms like this in our lives -- they take many forms -- wayward
children -- spiritual problems -- habitual sin -- financial problems -- fear,
anxiety, and worry about the future -- sickness -- even the death of a loved
one
-- when
you’re in the storm, that’s all you can see -- the storm can make you lose hope
-- the storm can make you think things are never going to be right again --
but, the truth of the situation is that you might be in the middle of a miracle
and not even know it
-- think
for a moment about the story of the prodigal son -- when this story is
preached, it usually takes one of three approaches:
1. The story of a son who hits rock bottom,
realizes his sin, repents of his sin, and returns to a father who loves him
more than he ever thought imaginable
2. The story of an older brother who, although
he has been obedient and never left, bears a hard heart and who believes he
must earn the father’s love through works and cannot accept one who comes
solely on the basis of grace
3. The loving father who shows extravagant mercy
and grace to his prodigal son when he finally returns
-- but,
have you ever considered reading the story of the prodigal from the point of
view of the father in the middle of this episode? -- think about what he is
going through
-- his
son has rejected him and all his teachings -- his son has left him and gone off
and abandoned his home, his family, his traditions, and his religion -- and he
doesn’t know where his son is
-- he
only knows his son is harming himself physically and spiritually -- he worries
about his son -- he probably prays for him daily -- and every day, he probably
sits out front of his home and hopes to see his son come walking back up the
drive again -- but, day after day, the road remains empty and his son isn’t
home
-- but,
you see, we know the rest of the story -- we know what’s going to happen in the
end -- the father thinks he is in a never-ending storm of woe -- but, he’s
actually in the middle of a miracle and he just doesn’t know it
-- he
looks around and all he can see are storm clouds -- he doesn’t know if his son
will ever return -- he doesn’t know if his son is going to survive -- he
doesn’t know if he will ever see his son again -- scripture says to train up a
child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he shall not depart from it
-- the father has done that, but his son departed none-the-less -- will he ever
come back?
-- the
father of the prodigal faces a daily crisis of belief -- the storm of his
wayward son has caused him to doubt in whether the Lord can -- or will -- do
anything to bring his son home
--
that’s the same place the father of this demon-possessed boy is at in this
story from Mark -- he can see the storm, and nothing more -- he has lost all
hope -- all faith -- all belief -- in a God who can and will heal -- and, all he
has left is doubt, despair, and agony
--
that’s why he cries out here in verse 22 to Jesus -- “IF” -- “If you can do
anything, take pity on us and help” -- the storm has taken away his faith and
trust -- and he just doesn’t dare to hope for help any longer
-- that’s
the way it is, isn’t it? -- when you are in the midst of a storm, it may look
like nothing will ever get better again -- it may look like there’s no answer
-- it may look like the worst has come to pass and there is no hope -- there is
only hurt and pain and despair
-- but, just
like the father of the prodigal son -- and just like the father of this
demon-possessed boy -- you may actually be in the middle of a miracle, but just
not realize it because the storm has battered your faith and belief
-- the
thing we must remember when we are in the midst of storm is to not put a period
where God is putting a comma -- every day is a new day of God’s grace -- the
Bible says that God’s mercies are new every morning -- hope springs eternal
when looked at through the lens of Jesus
-- and,
even though we many not realize it, God is there with us in the midst of the
storm -- He promises to bring good out of everything, even if we can’t dare to
believe it now -- when all we can see is the storm, we have to remember that a
miracle may be waiting right on the other side of the clouds
-- verse 23-27
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything
is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed,
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running
to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he
said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently
and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
-- the
prodigal son was lost for years -- his father had all but given up hope, when
God put the prodigal in a pig pen and led him to repent and to come home again
-- this
man’s son had suffered greatly for years at the hand of this unclean spirit,
but God had orchestrated a meeting with Jesus that day -- and the spirit was
driven out and healing came where hope had been lost
-- we
don’t know God’s plans for our lives or the lives of our loved ones -- we don’t
know the extent of the storm -- but God’s word promises that He will bring good
out of everything that comes into our lives and that He brings beauty out of our
ashes
-- this
passage reminds me of the hit song by the band Journey where they sang, “Don’t
stop believing...” -- that song should be our anthem as Christians
-- even
though the storm rages around us, don’t stop believing -- even though the pain
won’t go away despite medicine or surgery, don’t stop believing -- even though
our loved ones have strayed away and show no sign of coming home again, don’t
stop believing -- you may be in the middle of a miracle, and not even know it
-- when
you’re in the midst of a storm, sometimes all you can do is keep looking down
the road for a son who never appears -- sometimes all you can say is, “I
believe, help my unbelief” while you watch your child write in pain -- but,
know this: faith is built in times of trial and testing -- faith gets stronger
when the winds of storms blow against us -- faith will see us through
--
believing and not giving up in the midst of a storm tells Jesus that you trust
Him, even if you still have doubts -- that you trust Him, even if you don’t
understand why this is happening -- that you trust Him, even though you can’t
see how this can possibly turn out for good
-- remember
that miracles only happen in response to the storms in our lives
-- God
did a miracle in the heart of the prodigal son, and he repented and returned
when no one believed he would -- and God did a miracle in this man’s life, as
Jesus drove the evil spirit out and healed this man’s son, even though he had
little hope and faith left
III. Closing
-- I heard
a profound statement of truth this week that speaks to the truth of this
passage -- you can only see the results of God’s hand on your life after the
storm has passed, not when you are in the middle of it
-- it is
only after the storm is over -- when the miracle is realized -- that we can see
how God was there the whole time
-- I
think most of you know that I am a fan of The Walking Dead -- I haven’t missed
an episode from the very beginning, even though some episodes and some seasons
were not as good or entertaining as others
-- this
season is certainly one of those -- it just hasn’t been a very good season from
a viewer’s standpoint, and the ratings are the lowest the show has ever faced
-- but,
in the midst of this poor season, there was a nugget of sunshine that I
received that I keep with me almost daily
-- the
good guys are in a battle against evil in this season of The Walking Dead --
but, they keep losing, time and time again -- they come up with a plan to get
rid of the bad guys, but the bad guys are always one step ahead and the bad
guys always come out on top
-- the
good guys are getting discouraged -- the people don’t want to go out and fight
and lose again -- they’ve given up hope -- they’re resigned to their fate --
the storm is just too great
-- but
one character -- a man called King Ezekiel -- speaks to his people after they
have lost yet another battle and are preparing to fight again the next day --
he speaks to them in the midst of their storm and fans into flame the spark of
faith they had left -- let me share with you his speech as we close this
message:
-- “We
face dire challenge and chance -- our lives -- our way of life -- it hangs in
the balance -- we are a fragile glass, standing on a wire, high above the
asphalt, as we pray for not one drop of rain, under an overcast sky -- and yet
I smile
-- “we will fight -- and we will bleed -- and yet I smile
-- “we will fight -- and we will bleed -- and yet I smile
-- “we
shall face men -- some cornered into their roles by circumstance -- some,
desperate murderers thrilled by blood -- we shall end them all -- as is our
charge this day -- as is our sorrow -- and, yet I smile
-- “we
shall leave our loved ones to traverse a dangerous road -- rushing out of peace
into war -- and yet I smile
-- “for
we will mine glory from the rock of struggle this day -- we will honor and
protect this bastion of life in the land of the dead -- and we will win
-- “trust
the king -- we will win
-- “I
smile -- and laugh -- and rejoice this day because from this day we are joined
in purpose and vision -- we are of a singular heart and mind -- on this day, we
are one -- and so I smile”
-- I
don’t know where you are in your life today -- you may think you are in the
midst of storm -- you may be looking around and seeing nothing but dark clouds
-- but, you may actually be in the middle of a miracle
-- and,
so, when you find yourself in the middle of a crisis -- when you find yourself
doubting if good can every come again -- the message of this father is to not
give up hope, but to smile and to trust and to believe -- because miracles only
come after a trial -- and rainbows only come after a storm
-- you
may be in a storm, but your miracle may be just ahead -- don’t stop believing
-- don’t stop trusting -- don’t stop smiling -- for your God is with you
-- let
us pray
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