“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
My Notes
What Does Mark 9:23 Mean?
A father has brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus after the disciples failed to help. The father says if thou canst do any thing — expressing doubt about Jesus is ability. Jesus turns the phrase back on him: if thou canst believe. The issue is not whether Jesus can. It is whether the father will trust.
All things are possible to him that believeth. This is one of the broadest promises Jesus makes about faith. The scope is unlimited: all things. The condition is singular: belief.
The father is response (v.24) is one of the most honest prayers in Scripture: Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. He does not pretend to have perfect faith. He brings what he has — a mixture of belief and doubt — and asks Jesus to work with it.
Jesus does not reject the imperfect faith. He heals the boy. The lesson is clear: faith does not need to be complete to be effective. It needs to be real. And even the cry for help with unbelief is itself an act of faith.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Where are you experiencing belief and unbelief at the same time?
- 2.How does it change things that Jesus healed the boy even after the father admitted his doubt?
- 3.What would it look like to pray Lord I believe help thou mine unbelief honestly today?
- 4.How is if thou canst believe a different question than if thou canst do anything?
Devotional
If thou canst believe. Jesus redirects the entire conversation. The father came asking whether Jesus could help. Jesus says the question is not about his ability. It is about the father is faith.
That is both empowering and terrifying. Empowering because it means the door is open — all things are possible. Terrifying because the variable is you.
But then comes the most honest prayer in the Bible: Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. The father does not fake certainty. He brings his faith and his doubt together and lays them both at Jesus is feet. And Jesus does not turn him away.
If your faith feels partial — if you believe and doubt at the same time — you are in good company. The father who prayed this prayer saw his son healed. Imperfect faith, fully received.
You do not need to resolve every doubt before you approach Jesus. You just need to bring what you have — the faith and the unbelief, tangled together — and let him work with the whole mess of it.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe,.... As the man put an "if" on the power of Christ, Christ puts an "if" on…
See this passage explained in the notes at Mat 17:14-21. Mar 9:14 Questioning with them - Debating with the disciples,…
If Thou canst Believe - This was an answer to the inquiry above. I can furnish a sufficiency of power, if thou canst but…
We have here the story of Christ casting the devil out of a child, somewhat more fully related than it was in Mat 17:14,…
If thou canst According to the best reading here the translation would be, Jesus said unto him, As for thy if thou…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture