Sermon Snippet – Another Person You Should Know
INTRODUCTION – Last week, we considered a woman that we should all know, a faithful widow (Luke 21:1-4). In today’s passage (Mark 9:14-24), we are introduced to another fascinating individual, one who is thoroughly relatable. This moving account of a father’s love has many lessons for us, but we will limit ourselves to three key points.
1. WE LIVE IN THE VALLEY
Just before this story, James, John, and Peter had witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus, along with that of Elijah and Moses. This was a true mountaintop experience. However, they did not remain on this high ground, for above and separate from the problems of life down in the valley, the other disciples had been unable to help this burdened man and his suffering son (verse 18). Their failure is a message for another time (and one that I have preached several times). We are focusing on the reality of the ongoing challenges of life. We regularly recite Psalm 23 in church, including verse 4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Every day, we are walking through this valley. We sometimes walk in the deepening shadows, but we do not walk in spiritual darkness. Our walk is never solitary nor deambulatory. We do have glimpses of the mountain and times of being lifted up: each Christian has truly “been to the mountaintop.” One day, we will live there – in fact, even higher than there – but not yet. This heavy-hearted man, trudging through the low ground, is each one of us.
2. WE NEED HONESTY AND HUMILITY
This father’s response to Jesus is one of complete dependence: “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief’” (verse 24). We can contrast this honesty and humility with the smug, self-satisfied, so-called spirituality of the slippery “scribes” (verse 14 – “questioning” and carping, as always) and the self-absorbed disciples (verses 33-34). Each one of us must acknowledge that our faith is not perfect, for we are not perfect – not yet. Writing to Christians, the Apostle John stated, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:8-9). Only with honesty and humility do we find the “help” that we need.
3. WE HAVE A PERFECT SAVIOR
No, our faith is not perfect, but our faith is in the Perfect One. He provides exactly what this father and son needed. Still, though, they lived in the valley. However, Jesus was going to do something about that, too, something far greater (verse 31).
CONCLUSION – This loving father is someone that we should know. His honesty and humility before God the Son are refreshing. May we never become insufferable Christians, tut-tutting about the lack of faith of our sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus. Of course, we must know Him as Savior; He alone is the object of our imperfect faith – the perfect object of our imperfect faith.