去年圣诞节前后，我们觉得留下美好的回忆比圣诞树下的礼物更重要，于是我们和孙子孙女们计划了一周的假期，渡过了一段美好的时光。问题是，渡假周是在11月，当12月来临时，我们的小孙子睁着天真的大眼睛说：“奶奶，圣诞树下还是会有礼物的，对吗？”我看着他，眨了眨眼睛，向他保证我仍然是个圣诞狂热者。我让他看到了希望，他终于松了一口气。
在今天的圣经故事中，这位父亲迫切希望他的儿子恢复正常。门徒们没能把鬼从他身上赶出来，当他们与当地的宗教领袖发生争论时，混乱产生了。耶稣来到现场，看到这位绝望的父亲向祂寻求希望。我在想，当耶稣回答“你若能信”时，是否有一瞬间的讽刺意味，或者祂是否眨了一下眼？
孩子的父亲立刻又燃起了希望，他恳求耶稣帮助他克服疑惑。耶稣，这位关系性的救主，让鬼发出一声喊叫，男孩最终回到了父亲身边。
耶稣还告诉门徒，有时他们需要同时心存盼望和祷告。今天，让我们牢记，有了耶稣，“凡事都能”。
感谢你，耶稣，在你凡事都能。感谢你提醒我们这一真理和带给我们盼望。请帮助我们克服疑惑和焦虑，相信你会回应我们。阿们。
马可福音 9:14-27
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。
15众人一见耶稣，都甚稀奇，就跑上去问他的安。
16耶稣问他们说：“你们和他们辩论的是什么？”
17众人中间有一个人回答说：“夫子，我带了我的儿子到你这里来，他被哑巴鬼附着。
18无论在哪里，鬼捉弄他，把他摔倒，他就口中流沫，咬牙切齿，身体枯干。我请过你的门徒把鬼赶出去，他们却是不能。”
19耶稣说：“唉！不信的世代啊，我在你们这里要到几时呢？我忍耐你们要到几时呢？把他带到我这里来吧！”
20他们就带了他来。他一见耶稣，鬼便叫他重重地抽风，倒在地上翻来覆去，口中流沫。
21耶稣问他父亲说：“他得这病有多少日子呢？”回答说：“从小的时候。
22鬼屡次把他扔在火里、水里，要灭他。你若能做什么，求你怜悯我们，帮助我们！”
23耶稣对他说：“你若能信，在信的人，凡事都能。”
24孩子的父亲立时喊着说：“我信！但我信不足，求主帮助！”
25耶稣看见众人都跑上来，就斥责那污鬼，说：“你这聋哑的鬼，我吩咐你从他里头出来，再不要进去！”
26那鬼喊叫，使孩子大大地抽了一阵风，就出来了。孩子好像死了一般，以致众人多半说：“他是死了。”
27但耶稣拉着他的手，扶他起来，他就站起来了。
"Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'" - Mark 9:24
Around Christmastime last year, we decided that making memories was more important than gifts under the tree, so we booked a week of holidays with our grandkids and had a wonderful time. The problem was that the holiday week was in November, and when December came around, our grandson, with soulful eyes, said, "Grandma, there will still be presents under the tree, right?" I looked at him and winked, assuring him that I was still a Christmas fanatic. He was much relieved that I had given him hope.
In the commotion of our Bible story today, a father is desperate for his son to be well. The disciples aren't able to send an impure spirit out of him, and chaos erupts when they argue with the local religious leaders. As Jesus comes on the scene, the desperate father looks to him for hope. And I wonder if there isn't a moment of sarcasm or a wink as Jesus responds, "If I can?"
Immediately the boy's father has renewed hope, and he pleads with Jesus to help him overcome his doubts. Jesus, the relational Savior, sends the spirit shrieking and restores the boy to his father.
Jesus also tells the disciples that sometimes hope and prayer need to go together. Today let's remember that with Jesus "everything is possible."
Thank you, Jesus, that you can do all things. Thank you for the reminder and hope of this truth. Help us with our doubts and anxieties to trust you for the answers. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
