世世代代,这位绝望父亲的诉求得到无数的回响,因为每个为人父母的都可以认同。对,你歇尽全力想去挽救你那在患难中的孩子。如果人不是试过“神啊,请帮助我”这股内心的呼喊,人不会明白什么是不住的祷告 (帖前 5:17)。
那个儿子因为被鬼附而遭受癫痫之苦。作为一名轻度癫痫患者,我知道如果我所爱的人遭受癫痫,那会是多么可怕。这位无助的父亲无疑很惊慌,马上求助于耶稣的门徒。但他们帮不了他,而且接着还和当地的宗教领袖起了争论。
尽管这件事发生在耶稣被钉十架和复活之前,我们已经看见神的国藉着基督,正闯入世上的国 (启 11:15),要战胜罪恶。
但这男孩的父亲并没有意识到这一点。他只是求助于救主:“你若能作什么,求你...帮助我们。”
耶稣的回应——“在信的人,凡事都能”——听起来可能有些老套。但是,这位父亲却以罕见的诚实回答说:“我信。但我信不足,求主帮助!”然后“奇迹”就发生了。耶稣将鬼从男孩身上赶了出来,医治了他的癫痫,使他重回家中。那位对神诚实的父亲藉着芥菜种般小的信心,重新得回了健康而复原的儿子。这,就是复活的人生。
父神,当我们还作罪人的时候,祢就爱了我们。在我每天的挣扎中,赐我每日的信心来寻求祢。奉耶稣的名求,阿们。
马可福音 9:14-29
14耶稣到了门徒那里,看见有许多人围着他们,又有文士和他们辩论。"'Everything is possible for one who believes.'...The boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'" — Mark 9:23-24
The desperate father's plea reverberates down the centuries. Every parent understands. You're desperate to help your child. Prayer isn't so continual (1 Thessalonians 5:17) as involuntary: "God, please help!"
A son suffers seizures from demon-possession. As a mild epileptic, I know how terrifying seizures can be for my loved ones. No doubt in panic, the helpless father seeks the help of Jesus' disciples. But they're unable to help, and an argument with the local religious leaders ensues.
Though this happened before Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, we see the kingdom of God in Christ invading the kingdom of the world" (Revelation 11:15), conquering evil.
But the boy's father doesn't realize this. He's just reaching out to the Savior: "If you can do anything... help us."
Jesus' response—"Everything is possible for one who believes"—may sound trite. The father responds with uncommon honesty: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Then "the God thing" happens. Jesus frees the boy of the demon, heals him of his seizures, and restores him to his family. The honest-to-God father with just a mustard seed of faith now has his son back—healthy and whole. This is resurrection life.
Father God, you loved us while we were yet sinners. Give us daily faith to seek you. Help us who struggle with faith to believe every day in the Christ who saves us. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳