Believe in who ?

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How to go to Heaven : Die first

How to get right with God : Confess & Repent 

All things are possible to him who believes : Believe in who?

QUESTION

What does it mean that all things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23)¹?

all things are possible to him who believes

ANSWER : 

Jesus’ statement in Mark 9:23¹ regarding the power available to him who believes is a controversial one. The context of Mark 9, however, establishes a clear understanding of Jesus’ statement. Mark 9 presents a scene where a father is seeking aid from Jesus’ disciples in casting a demon out of his son. Jesus approaches and asks what is happening. The father’s answer is that the disciples have failed to cast out the demon. Jesus replies, “You unbelieving generation, . . . how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” (Mark 9:19)². The father then asks Jesus to take pity on them and cast out the demon (Mark 9:22)³. Jesus then says, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23, NKJV)⁴.

The word for “believes” is a participle that literally translates as “the believing one.” Jesus provides the means for everything to be possible—one must believe in Him! The Amplified Bible translates Jesus’ statement more fully: “All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Faith is an important ingredient in this story. Some have argued that the strength of one’s belief is what Jesus is discussing. The issue at hand, however, is not how strongly or boldly the father believed Jesus would heal his son. The issue is the object of one’s belief. The disciples didn’t need more faith but more focused faith. Put another way, the disciples needed to place their belief in the correct object—Jesus Christ.

In Mark 9:22, the father asks for Jesus’ help, beginning his appeal with “If you can do anything.” Jesus’ initial response to the father in Mark 9:23 takes issue with how the father framed his request: “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asks. “Anything is possible if a person believes” (NLT). Proper belief in who Jesus is would have given the father confidence in Jesus’ ability to cast out the demon. After hearing this, the father exclaims that he does believe, and if there is any deficiency, he requests that Jesus help his unbelief (verse 24). Mark 9:25–29 ⁵ reveals the person and power necessary to cast out the demon. As Jesus states in verse 29, prayer is necessary because the Person needed for such a task is God Himself. The object of one’s faith is critical.

Jesus makes a remarkable statement in Mark 9:23. If we misunderstand the statement that “all things are possible to him who believes,” we set ourselves up for disappointment. Jesus’ words are not a promise that we can do whatever we want; rather, He makes it clear that the believing one has power only due to whom he believes in; namely, Jesus, the Son of God. The power is God’s, accessed through faith and prayer according to His will (see 1 John 5:14)⁶. It is because of God that the believing one can accomplish much. It is by God’s grace the disciples would accomplish incredible and miraculous things after Jesus’ departure (cf. Acts 3:1–10)⁷. As we live for Jesus, let us focus on the object of our belief (Hebrews 12:2)⁸.

Note: 

¹ Mark 9:23 ; Jesus said  him, "If thou canst believe, all things areunto possible to him that believeth."

² Mark 9:19 ;  "You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 

³ Mark 9: 22 ; “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

⁴ Mark 9:21 ; Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 

⁵ Mark 9:25–29 ; 

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.

⁶ 1 John 5:14 ; This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

⁷ Acts 3:1-10 ;

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 

2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.

 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.

 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”

 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 

9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 

10 they recognized him as same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

⁸ Hebrews 12:2 ; fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.