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Jesus Heals a Boy
(Matthew 17.14-18; Mark 9.14-27)
37The next day Jesus and his three disciples came down from the mountain and were met by a large crowd. 38Just then someone in the crowd shouted, “Teacher, please do something for my son! He is my only child! 39A demon often attacks him and makes him scream. It shakes him until he foams at the mouth, and it won't leave him until it has completely worn the boy out. 40I begged your disciples to force out the demon, but they couldn't do it.”
41Jesus said to them, “You people are stubborn and don't have any faith! How much longer must I be with you? Why do I have to put up with you?”
Then Jesus said to the man, “Bring your son to me.” 42While the boy was being brought, the demon attacked him and made him shake all over. Jesus ordered the demon to stop. Then he healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43Everyone was amazed at God's great power.
Jesus Again Speaks
(Matthew 17.22,23; Mark 9.30-32)
While everyone was still amazed at what Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, 44“Pay close attention to what I am telling you! The Son of Man will be handed over to his enemies.” 45But the disciples did not know what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them. They could not understand it, and they were afraid to ask.
Reflect
Where do you turn when you’re desperate? “Teacher, please do something for my son!” a voice yells from out of the crowd. This father’s distress and desperation are clear. Here is his only child. For years he has watched helplessly as his son suffers through horrible fits. No medicines have helped. No religious leaders have helped. Even Jesus’ disciples have failed to help. There is nowhere left to go, except to Jesus.
In many ways our world is different from this man’s. When we’re in a difficult situation, there are many places we can go for help. Advice is only a click away on the Internet. Hospitals and clinics are close by. Prescriptions can be filled at the nearest grocery store. Self-help books download to our e-readers in seconds. We’re blessed to be surrounded by support systems.
Every so often, though, we run out of options. We try everything, but nothing helps. There’s nowhere left to go. When we come to the end of ourselves and all our own efforts, we have a choice. We could give up, because the situation seems so hopeless. Or, like the man in this story, we can cry out to Jesus for help.
Of course, turning to Jesus in faith should be our first response to a tough situation, not our last resort. Peter gives us this advice: “God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him” (1 Peter 5:7). Isn’t that amazing? The Creator of the universe cares deeply about every part of your life. He wants you to go to him – when you’re desperate but also long before that – so that he can get involved. The more we do this, the more we’ll have the chance to be amazed at God’s great power at work.
Respond
Compassionate Father, you know everything about me already. So often I try to rely on myself or on this world’s help. Help me to come to you with all my burdens, worries, and desperate situations, so I can experience your care and share it with others. Amen.
Leonard Buhler
Innovative, entrepreneurial and adventurous – these words capture Leonard Buhler’s approach to life and leadership, shaped by many years in business. Leonard served as president of Power to Change from 2004–2015 where it was his passion to see millions of Canadians commit - anytime, anywhere, at any cost, to do anything – in reaching their world for Jesus. Leonard and his wife Debbie live in Abbotsford. They have four adult children and are grandparents.