In the first half of Mark chapter 9, we witness the awe-inspiring Transfiguration of Jesus. Peter, James, and John are privileged to see Jesus in His radiant glory, accompanied by Moses and Elijah. This moment represents the culmination of the Law and the Prophets, with God the Father declaring from heaven, “This is my beloved Son; listen to Him!” However, as momentous as this mountain experience was, the disciples were soon led back down to face the reality of life at the mountain’s foot—a scene of spiritual struggle and human helplessness.
This passage reveals two fathers and two sons: one father, God the Almighty, perfect and omnipotent, who loves His Son, Jesus, with divine affection; the other, a desperate, earthly father, struggling to help his afflicted son. This message reflects on the contrast between these fathers and the deeper spiritual truths revealed through their interactions with their sons.
The Helplessness of Man Without God’s Grace
It is humanly impossible for fathers, or any individual, to accomplish eternal good for their children apart from God’s grace. The scene at the base of the mountain—where a crowd, scribes, and the remaining nine disciples are arguing—illustrates the helplessness of humanity. The disciples, embroiled in a theological debate, had failed to heal a boy possessed by a demon, demonstrating their lack of spiritual power. In the midst of this chaos, one desperate man emerges, seeking Jesus with his afflicted son, calling out for help when all other avenues have failed.
The failure of the disciples points to a larger issue: man’s inability to achieve anything of spiritual value without faith in God. Jesus’ rebuke of the faithless generation in verse 19 underscores this. Faith is essential, yet so often, we find ourselves lacking, like the disciples and this father, powerless in our own strength.
The Tragedy of Humanity in Adam
The father in this story is not just any father—he is a son of Adam, representing fallen humanity. His son, likewise, is afflicted by the curse of sin that entered the world through Adam, as described in Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” The boy’s affliction—being seized, thrown down, foaming at the mouth, and rendered mute—is a vivid depiction of sin’s destructive power in human life.
This father, a child of Adam, cannot save his son any more than he can save himself. He is a picture of helplessness and desperation, and his cry to Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us,” reflects the universal human condition—spiritually dead and in need of divine intervention.
The Divine Son and the Power of Faith
In contrast to the helpless father and son stands Jesus, the beloved Son of God. He is not the son of Adam but the Son of the perfect Father, who declared from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to Him” (Mark 9:7). Unlike Adam’s descendants, Jesus possesses the power of life and victory over sin and death.
When the boy’s father pleads for help, Jesus challenges him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23). Here, Jesus points to the transformative power of faith—faith that He alone can bring healing, restoration, and life. The father’s response, “I believe; help my unbelief!” is both an admission of faith and a cry for more. It encapsulates the tension many of us feel: we believe, yet we struggle with doubt. This father’s humble plea resonates with all who recognize their need for more faith and their utter dependence on God’s grace.
4. The Necessity of Hearing and Believing in Jesus
The key message in this passage is the necessity of listening to Jesus and believing in Him. The Father’s voice from heaven commands us to “listen to Him,” and it is through hearing and believing that we find life. Moses, Elijah, the Law, and the Prophets, even the disciples—all fall short of offering eternal life. Only Jesus, the Son of God, holds the words of eternal life (John 6:68). In the moment when others failed, Jesus proved His power and authority by casting out the demon and restoring the boy to life.
This act points to the larger reality of Christ’s mission: He came to conquer sin, death, and the devil. The boy, lying as though dead after the demon’s departure, is a symbol of humanity’s spiritual death in Adam. But just as Jesus took the boy by the hand and raised him, so too does Christ raise all who are dead in sin to new life through faith in Him.
Application: Bringing Our Children to Jesus
As parents and as believers, we are called to bring our children to Jesus. This story underscores that only Christ can do them lasting spiritual good. No amount of religious effort, no theological debate, and no human wisdom can substitute for the saving power of Christ. Fathers and mothers must realize their helplessness apart from Christ and, like the father in this passage, cry out to Jesus on behalf of their children.
The father’s plea for compassion and his admission of struggling faith serve as an example for us today. Are we, as parents and as followers of Christ, humble enough to admit our own unbelief and bring our children to the only One who can save them?
Conclusion: Hear the Son of God
Mark 9 reminds us of the critical importance of hearing and believing in Jesus. The Father’s command to “listen to Him” applies not only to the disciples on the mountain but to all of us today. As descendants of Adam, we are helpless in our sin, but in Christ, we are made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22). The helpless father and son of Mark 9 find their answer in Jesus, and so do we. Let us bring our children, our struggles, and our unbelief to Jesus, for He alone has the power to heal, restore, and give life.
We hope you have found this to be helpful in your study of Christ in the Gospels. In our next article we will focus on the father’s plea; “I believe; help my unbelief!”
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