"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." MARK 9:24
HOW VERY SMALL was the faith with which this man came to Christ. It was like a grain of mustard seed. Twice we read of Jesus expressing wonder at the great faith of the poor worms that applied to Him. When the centurion came to Him in behalf of his beloved servant who was sick, he believed that Christ was willing and able to heal him, though he lay beneath a sinfull roof. "Jesus marvelled at so great faith" (Matthew 8:5-13). When the Syrophenician woman cried after Him in behalf of her child, she would not be turned back by His long silence, or by His seemingly rough words; she saw deep into His heart of grace, and waited for an answer of peace, till Jesus cried, "O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt" (Matthew 15:21-28).
Another time a leper came, and as he kneeled said, "Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make me clean". This was little faith. He believed the power of Jesus; he was not sure of His willingness. He thought He might be willing, for he came and applied to Him; still he was not sure, and said, If thou wilt. With holy majesty Jesus rebuked his unbelief, and granted his desire: "I will, be thou clean" (Matthew 8:3). But far weaker than all these was the faith of this unhappy father; "If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us". Alas, that ever such words should be spoken to the Lord of glory. He in whose hand our breath is, and whose are all our ways – He by whom all things were created that are in heaven, and that are in earth – He whose name is Jehovah-Rophi, "The Lord that healeth thee", was standing before him, and yet his faith could reach no higher than that, "If thou canst do anything". And yet Jesus did not cast the unbelieving man away from Him. Jesus never can deny that word, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out". He sent him home a happy father with his child made whole. These things were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. How evil unbelief appears in another, and yet how little do I perceive the same dishonouring thoughts of Christ when they lurk in my own bosom. I feel as if I never could use such language to Jehovah Jesus - and yet how many times in the day I doubt both His love and His power. How often, when guilt is on my conscience, I doubt whether He be entirely willing to be the Mediator between God and such a sinful wretch as me. How often, in an hour of temptation, when the passions are roused, I doubt whether He be able to subdue such a heart as mine. How often these words are the language of my heart: "If thou canst do anything, have compassion on me, and help me." And yet for all our unbelief, He doth not send us empty away. Faith, as a grain of mustard seed, obtains everlasting benefits, Luke 17:6. Do not let me then keep away from Christ, because my faith is small. Though He had to call His disciples, "Ye of little faith", yet that did not hinder Him from rebuking the winds and the sea for them, and there was a great calm, Matthew 8:26. In like manner though my name may be, "Thou of little faith", to the end of life's troubled journey, yet will I go to Him with such faith as I have, and He will in no wise cast me out. But observe the prayer of the anxious father, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief". O! surely this was a groan dictated by the Spirit of supplications. Never was prayer better timed, or better expressed. The Author of faith stood before him – to whom could he go for faith but unto Christ? Faith is the gift of Jehovah Jesus, John 17:2. He in His kingly power, riding through the world, sends out His arrows, and brings down the people under Him, Psalm 45:5. He not only brings gold for our ransom, and white raiment to cover our nakedness, but He brings in His hand, to the door of sinners, eye-salve to anoint our eyes, that we may see, Revelation 3:18. He was not only wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for iniquities, but He bids us reach forward our finger, that He may guide it into the prints of the nails, and reach forward our hand, that He may guide it to His wounded side. He was not only the Rock cleft for sinners, but by His Almighty power He puts us into the cleft of the rock, and hides us there, Exodus 33:22.
Would that all the church of Christ were taught this prayer, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief', or that other, "Increase our faith" (Luke 17:5). Two precious things are contained in it. A sense of our want of faith, and a clear knowledge of the fountain whence living faith must flow. Few people know how small their faith is. In a Christian land, sitting under a lively ministry, surrounded by warm-hearted Christian friends, the feelings are fanned into a glow, and the believer thinks that his faith is strong and full. But let providence call that believer to a foreign land, where –
Let him wander among those that never pray to Jesus, like Abraham in the land of the Canaanites, or let him lie on a sick bed with none to wait on him that know the Saviour, then he will begin to learn by sad experience that warm feelings are not faith – that faith in Jesus is like a grain of mustard seed in his bosom. O it is a painful but a blessed lesson to be taught how weak our faith is. It makes us trust less to our feelings, and less to friends, and makes us cleave closer to Christ as our all in all.
But if it be good to know how little faith we have, it is better far to know what an over flowing fountain Jesus is. He is "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending". He is "the Author and the Finisher of our faith". He anointed our eyes at the first, and made us see men as trees walking. He alone can anoint them more fully, that we may see all things clearly. He alone can help our unbelief. He can cover all the sin of it, for O it is crimson sin. He can remove it by fuller discoveries of Himself. "My Beloved is like a roe, or a young hart". On judah's hills the gazelle bounds with amazing ease and graceful swiftness over the most rugged rocks. It is its very nature to spring from crag to crag. So easily, swiftly, and agreeably to His gracious nature does the Lord Jesus reveal Himself to the souls that wait for Him. Often by a single visit the unbelief of half a lifetime vanishes, and the soul cries out with adoring joy, "My Lord, and my God". Wait on the Lord Jesus, O doubting soul. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart. "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord" (Lamentations 3:26). Often look beyond the blue sky to Him who sits on the right hand of God, and cry out with tears, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief".