“I see doubt as a confirmation that someone is a true believer. If we believed completely, if we didn't have any doubts, we would be incapable of loving God volitionally... If we got to the point where we knew everything about Him and we had no doubts at all, love wouldn't be love. It would be like looking out your window at the tree outside; you'd just take it for granted.” (Chuck Colson in an interview in Slate magazine, October 20, 2010)
Jesus has just come down off the mountain where He was revealed in His heavenly glory. As He is coming down, His disciples ask Him about Elijah (v. 10). Jesus responds by saying that due to people’s unbelief, Elijah, even though he came, was not recognized and he was killed. Therefore the Kingdom is delayed.
Next Jesus encounters an argument between His disciples and the Jewish scribes (Mark 9:14 in the parallel passage). A demon-possessed boy suffers nearby yet no one is able to help him. In clear frustration, Jesus says, “You unbelieving and perverted generation… how long shall I put up with you?” (v. 17) Even in the prediction of His death, burial and resurrection (vv.22-23), the disciples catch only part of the story and miss what He says about His rising from the dead. For, the Scripture says, they were deeply grieved (v. 23).
This passage is not about eschatology, demon possession, botany, plate tectonics or even prophecy. The one thread connecting these three episodes is faith… and the lack of faith. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). The greatest possession we have, more precious than gold, is our faith in God (1 Peter 1:7). Faith is vitally important because faith is the medium through which God and man commune.
While every believer struggles with doubt, we shall not confuse doubt with disbelief. All believers can relate to the doubts of the father of the boy in this passage when he said to Jesus, “I do believe. Help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). John the Baptist, while imprisoned and awaiting execution, has his doubts. He sends a message to Jesus asking if He is “the Expected One or shall we look for someone else?” (Matthew 11:3). Jesus never condemns those believers who doubt. In fact, Jesus heals the doubting man’s son (v.18) and Jesus praises unequivocally John the Baptist as the greatest born among women (Matthew 11:11).
On the other hand, disbelief is a poison that kills the life that God extends to us. Jesus refused to do miracles in Nazareth, (His home town!) because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:58). Jesus continually lashes out against the Pharisees and scribes for their hard hearts (e.g., Matthew 16:1-4; 23:1-36); He even rebukes His own disciples frequently for their hard hearts (e.g., Mark 8:17-21).
During our earthly sojourn, how do we as believers strengthen our faith? Just as an athlete must eat right and exercise right, so the believer must eat right and exercise right. First we must feast on God and His Word. Romans 10:17 teaches that faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of Christ. Jesus says in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Second, we must exercise our faith. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, said repeatedly, “Faith is like a muscle. The more you exercise it, the bigger it gets. “ Scripture admonishes us to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). To walk implies movement and action, not comfort and inactivity.
It is one thing to doubt; it is quite another to not believe. Doubt brings strength; disbelief brings death. We all wrestle with doubt. Hence we are called to encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13) while both the Spirit and the Lord Jesus intercede for us (Romans 8:26,34). May we all taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)
Hope you are doing well in Hungary if you are still there. Thanks for this post.
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