“IF YOU CAN…”

In the Christian Standard Version of the New Testament, the word “compassion” can be found eleven times. All eleven describe and define the heart of Jesus. Jesus was compassionate … He was “moved with compassion” (Mark 1:41).

One of my favorite passages in the New Testament is found in the nineth chapter of Mark’s Gospel. When a broken-hearted daddy brought his weak and weary son to Jesus, Jesus had compassion! He’s how the story unfolds…

While Jesus was busy on the Mount of Transfiguration, the daddy brought his son to some of Jesus’ disciples. Earlier, Jesus had commissioned the twelve disciples saying, “go, proclaim, ‘the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons” (Matthew 10:7-8). Instructed and empowered, the disciples “drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them”

(Mark 6:13).

But something went wrong. When the daddy presented his son to the disciples, they couldn’t heal him. They failed. They were powerless, and the boy was left unchanged.

When Jesus arrived, the defeated dad cried out to Jesus, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t … if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:17-18, 22).

The circumstances were dire, dreadful, dismal. With symptoms resembling epilepsy, the boy was plagued with deadly seizures and spasms, so his daddy prayed to Jesus, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us!”

Are you struggling with a physical malady? … a financial disaster? … a broken relationship? … a desperate need? … a feeble and failing faith?

“Everything is possible for the one who believes” (Mark 9:23). Of course, Jesus can help! He has compassion!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).