Mark 9:20-24 20And they brought him to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed him, and falling on the ground he rolled about foaming at the mouth. 21And he asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22And often it has cast him into fire and into water, in order to destroy him. But if you can do anything, help us and be compassionate to us.” 23And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24Immediately crying out, the father of the child said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
The boy bound by the unclean spirit was brought to Jesus. Like in other occasions, the spirit recognized the power and presence of Jesus represented by the boy having a seizure. The description of the boy’s response matches the common experience of an epileptic grand mal seizure. A person loses control of his or her body. During a grand mal, a person may stop breathing and spittle may gather in the mouth. It is not a pleasant experience to go through or to watch.
Jesus’ question to the boy’s father involves the father in the healing and tests his faith in Jesus. Jesus did not need to know how long the boy had been like this. However, since the child was like this since he was young, the problem was not demons but likely epilepsy. It is difficult to imagine that a demon would take over a young innocent child. However, in the ancient world, the people had no other explanation for epilepsy. When a person has a seizure, that person loses control and conscientiousness and can easily fall into whatever is nearby, such as a fire or water. The father’s plea is for compassion and help.
Jesus quotes the man’s words and prompts him to express his faith. All things are possible in faith. Jesus does not give an object of the faith, but it is implicit that it is he. Thus, faith by itself does not heal, but faith in Jesus can. The man has a small degree of faith seen by his bringing his son in the first place to be healed. His motive appears to be desperate and unbelieving. His response is deeply honest and one we all have. We may believe but at the same time do not know how something could even be possible. Faith begins with some small hope that a situation can change and be better. Something will cause that faith to move towards assurance, which in turn strengthens the hope (Hebrews 11:1).
In this case, the father was asking Jesus to strengthen his hope because he had little left to hope in. Everything seemed impossible to him because of the struggle over many years. His hope was worn down and desperate. His cry for help and compassion involved no only his son but himself. He had been beaten down every time his son had a seizure. At this low moment in his life, he had heard of Jesus and had waited for him to come. Jesus was his last hope, his only hope.
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