The
healing of the demon possessed boy (Matt. 17:14–20) at first glance
seems to be only one more in a series of miraculous healings recorded by
Matthew. What makes this one unique is Jesus’ emphasis on the role of
faith. It is true that faith is prominent in the miracles recorded in
chapter 9, but in chapter 17 it is the lack of faith that is emphasized
by Jesus.
That
God is not dependent on human faith for accomplishing His work is clear
from the accounts of other miracles recorded by Matthew. The
transfiguration of Jesus immediately prior to the healing of the boy is a
prime example. It was a spectacular miracle; yet no human faith was
involved. This is also true in the feeding of the five thousand (Matt.
14:13–21) and the four thousand (15:32–38). So the first thing we need
to learn about faith and the power of God is that He is not dependent on
our faith to do His work. God will not be hostage to our lack of faith.
The
second thing we need to learn, however, is that God often requires our
faith in the carrying out of His purposes. We see this in the healing of
the demon possessed boy. Mark, in his account, brings this out sharply
in Jesus’ conversation with the boy’s father. The father, in great
distress, said to Jesus: “But if you can do anything, have compassion on
us and help us” (Mark 9:22). He had already experienced the failure of
the disciples, so he was not sure if Jesus could help. His faith at this
point may be described as no more than an uncertain hope that Jesus
could do what the disciples could not do.
Jesus
responded to the father: “If you can! All things are possible for one
who believes” (v. 23). Biblical faith may be described in different ways
depending on the situation. The description of faith in Hebrews 11:1 as
“the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,”
was appropriate for the Jewish recipients of the letter, who were
facing severe opposition and needed to be encouraged as to the certainty
of their hope in Christ.
For
the father of the boy, faith would mean believing that Jesus could heal
his son. We are often like the father. We may face what seems to be an
intractable situation, and because we have prayed a long time without an
answer, we begin to doubt that God can answer our prayer. But we must
believe that with God nothing is impossible.
Sarah,
the wife of Abraham, doubted that God could give them a son in their
advanced age, to which God replied, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
(Gen. 18:14). Centuries later, the prophet Jeremiah wavered in his
faith when God told him to buy a field in the face of the Chaldeans’
invasion (Jer. 32:6-26). Again God’s response was: “Is anything too hard
for me?” (v. 27). To have faith in God, even in the face of unanswered
prayer or a seemingly impossible situation, means we continue to believe
that He can do what seems impossible to us.
conclusion part 2
conclusion part 2
