Mark 9:17-21: a reflection

17One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; 18and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.” 19He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth. 21He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has been happening to him?” He said, “From childhood.

A father brings to Jesus his son, afflicted by a spirit that had tormented him terribly since childhood, throwing him down, leaving him unable to speak. The disciples had tried to help and failed. When Jesus asks how long this has been happening, the father answers, From childhood. This was no recent or passing trouble; it was a long, entrenched affliction, years of suffering, that had resisted every attempt at help. And the father brings this long-standing burden, at last, to Jesus.

Notice the nature of the trouble: it had lasted from childhood, a long, chronic affliction. This was not a fresh problem but an old, deep, entrenched one, that had persisted for years and resisted help, even the disciples' attempts. And yet the father brings it to Jesus, not giving up despite how long it had gone on. He carries this old, heavy burden to the one who could finally help.

That is an encouragement to bring even our oldest, most entrenched troubles to Jesus. We may have burdens that have afflicted us for years, chronic struggles, long-standing sins, old wounds, that seem too deep-rooted to change, that have resisted every attempt at help. We can grow to assume nothing will ever change. But the father brought his son's lifelong affliction to Jesus, and Jesus healed him. Do not give up on your long-standing troubles as beyond help. Bring even your oldest, most entrenched burdens to Jesus, the chronic struggles you have carried for years. He is not daunted by how long they have lasted; bring them to him, as the father brought his son, and trust the one who can help where all else has failed.

Lord Jesus, a father brought you his son, afflicted since childhood by a spirit that had tormented him for years and resisted every attempt at help, and you healed him. Encourage me to bring my own long-standing troubles to you. I may carry burdens that have afflicted me for years, chronic struggles, entrenched sins, old wounds, that seem too deep-rooted to change and have resisted every attempt at help. I can grow to assume nothing will ever change. But you are not daunted by how long a trouble has lasted. Help me not to give up on my long-standing burdens as beyond help, but to bring even my oldest and most entrenched to you, as the father brought his son. You can help where all else has failed; I bring my long affliction to you, and trust you with it.