on the walk

[Note: If you ever want to look at this whole series, just click on the category “Praying with Jesus” and it will list all the post in this series.]

The next reference to prayer in the gospel of Mark is in chapter 9. Jesus and the three (James, John and Peter) come down from the mountain to find a scene of controversy. The other disciples (who have by this point had successful independent ministries that included exorcisms) have been unsuccessful in their attempts to help a frantic father whose son is possessed.
The man came in faith but now his faith has been shaken and so he asks Jesus “If you can…”

The scene itself is breathtaking. We learn about doubt and faithfulness, and we have another foreshadowing of Jesus death and resurrection. In the narrative there is no prayer.

But prayer is mentioned later when the disciples come to Jesus and ask why they were unable to cast out the demon. Jesus’ response is curious and in some ways troubling, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

In the context of this post I cannot imagine trying to sort out the implications of the narratives of Mark for understanding demons, I will stick with the implications for prayer and these are confusing enough. The most basic question is to try to figure out what Jesus means. Does he mean that in cases like this a special prayer needs to be said and that this prayer drives out the demon? If so, why is there no mention of Jesus praying in the whole narrative.

Are we to assume that prayer played no part in the disciples previous practice of exorcism? This seems hard to imagine but I am not sure what evidence we have one way or another.

This is clearly a faith story. Jesus comes down that mountian and is apprised of the situation. Jesus laments, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you?”

I think that perhaps this line offers an insight into what Jesus is teaching about prayer. The disciples had full trust in one thing: Jesus. When he returned they came to him trusting that he could resolve the crisis. I am reminded of the great old gospel tune that includes the line, “when you turn it all over to Jesus, he shore(sure) will work it out, Oh yes he will.” But by the end of the story Jesus has broadened their focus. It is not about him in the flesh but rather the God whose son he is.

Whatever else we learn from this text ,we learn that prayer is an act of faith and this faith allows us to be a part of the work of God in a way that is not otherwise possible. This whole story reminds us that for some situations, there are no tricks, there are no methods except to wait upon God to act. Prayer, it seems, is a method of holy waiting. In prayer we acknowledge that God’s power and not ours is what is required. Prayer is a statement of faith because in prayer we acknowledge our dependence on God.
Jesus will not always be with them in the body, even as he is not with us. But through prayer, and with God, nothing in impossible.

on the walk

-Ethan

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