Mark 9:14-29
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
Reflection
Though the miracles of Jesus are less emphasized in the second half of Mark (8:27–16:8), he still performs them alongside his teachings (8:14–29; 10:46– 52). The ongoing need for healing and rescue reveals the present nature of the kingdom of God —it is slowly breaking into a world that is still badly malfunctioning.
The followers of Jesus are not guaranteed protection from the various effects of sin in the world, including sickness, oppression, suffering, and countless other difficulties in life. We must always depend on our Lord, knowing that the struggle against spiritual and human opposition continues in our own day.
But whatever happens to us, we remember that Christ has died and risen again, and we are eternally united to the One who now sits at God’s right hand. Our final glory and healing are certain.
2 Corinthians 10:7-18
7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” 11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another's area of influence. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Reflection
Because of the influence of the false apostles in Corinth, Paul now explains the validity of his ministry (2 Cor. 10:10). His “boasting” is not like the proud and self-praising claims of the false apostles. He boasts only about that which has been given to him by Christ. He views his apostolic authority and influence as gifts to be used in his service to the church (v. 8, 13–16).
All of this is possible because Paul finds his identity in the Lord’s approval (v. 18). He has no need to compare himself to others because he doesn’t depend on the ways others assess his value (v. 12). The gospel saves us from the deadly trap of trusting in ourselves to create an identity. God approves us and gives us an identity. This frees us from living in fear of criticism (God has already approved us in Christ) and from comparing ourselves to others (we are nothing in ourselves but have received everything from Christ). When we embrace God’s approval of us in Christ, we can live with a confidence in God that allows us to boast in the work of the Lord but refuse to boast “beyond limits” (vv. 13, 17).
Psalm 118:6
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
The gospel releases us from the slavery of being people pleasers by offering the acceptance of God regardless of our failures. Pray for yourself and others you know who seem to struggle with insecurity because they are trying to gain the approval of others.