Jesus took three disciples, Peter, James and John to a high mountain.
On that mountain Jesus transfigured before these disciples.
His face shone and his clothes became dazzling white.
Today’s text introduces an event that occurred after Jesus and his disciples came down from the mountain.
While Jesus and his three disciples were away at the mountain, the other disciples who stayed behind in the village tried to heal a boy possessed by an evil spirit.
The disciples did not succeed to drive the evil spirit out of the boy’s body.
Let us imagine this scene and compare these two groups of disciples.
The disciples on the mountain just participated in Jesus’ glory and transfiguration.
But the disciples who were down in the village are struggling with a difficult problem.
What do you think about it?
Our Christian life is like that.
At times, we Christians experience glory and the work of heaven in our lives.
However, we still face our daily dilemma that makes us helpless and discouraged.
Yes, I think a Christian life is a cycle of these two.
When we are convinced with our faith in our salvation or filled up with Holy Spirit, we are experiencing the glory and work of heaven.
However, we find easily ourselves standing in front of the pain and problems.
The problems could be our own, our family’s, or even friends’.
Have you experienced such problems?
Problems that you could not comprehend or made you feel discouraged and helpless?
I am sure we all have.
Perhaps, some of us are suffering even at this very moment.
As I preached few weeks ago, prophet Elijah became discouraged after his encounter with hardship.
Elijah won the battle over the prophets of Baal.
He experienced the glory and power of God.
But the joy did not last long.
Elijah became afraid of Jezebel and ran for his life.
His pain was so great and he prayed to God to take his life away.
It seems ironic, but that is how we are.
Let’s look at today’s story.
The boy with an evil spirit had seizures.
According to Greek origin, the boy was born with this condition.
We can assume how difficult it must have been for the boy and his family.
The boy’s father must have tried different ways to heal his son.
Nothing worked for the boy to get healed.
And then, the father heard about Jesus and his disciples.
He heard that Jesus was able to heal sicknesses and perform miracles.
The father might have thought this Jesus could heal his son.
When the father arrived at the place where he could meet Jesus, Jesus was not around.
Jesus went up in the mountains with three disciples, leaving the other nine disciples there.
The father went to the remaining nine disciples and asked them to help his son.
Upon the father’s request, the disciples tried various ways to drive the evil spirit out of the boy’s body.
But, nothing worked.
Imagine how embarrassed the disciples must have been.
In this chaotic moment, Jesus came down from the mountain and realized the situation that his disciples were faced with.
The disciples asked Jesus a very important question.
They asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
They wanted to ask why they could not solve the problem on their own?
And Jesus answered the question.
“You faithless generation, How much longer must I be among you?”
Jesus scolded his disciples for not having faith.
I believe Jesus says the same thing to us now.
Jesus teaches us how our faith can turn despair to hope through this story.
We experience incomprehensive pains and difficulties in our lives.
Jesus wants to strengthen us to overcome those obstacles with faith.
Jesus says that we must have faith.
We need to learn and obtain this faith so we can overcome all the hardships in our life without getting despair.
I would like to look at this faith in three different perspectives.
First, we need to have faith in Jesus.
To whom did the boy’s father visit first?
He went to the disciples.
The boy’s father was hoping that the disciples knew the solutions.
But the result was disappointing.
The disciples could not do anything for this boy.
They could not solve the problem.
Have you experienced something similar?
Perhaps you know somebody in great pain.
All you could say is “Go to church. Have a religion”.
That person would take your advice and decide to go to church.
He would participate in a worship service and pray as he was told.
He would ask pastors to pray for him and ask for consultation.
Despite of all his effort to be religious, nothing worked for him.
I am not saying that pastoral leadership is useless.
I am saying that the first thing we need to seek is a firm foundational relationship with our lord.
Seeking help from people because they are in certain positions in church might not provide you with the right answer.
Also, please understand that your active participation in various church ministries does not guarantee your problems to be solved.
Those are like street signs.
The street signs would show you how to get to your destination.
They are not the destination itself.
What is church?
You could come to church every Sunday, but remain unchanged, and stay as the same old person.
Coming only to church, would not change us.
You have to seek Jesus with all your heart and meet Jesus personally.
Pastoral teachings and counseling are directing you to Jesus.
However, many Christians are confused by the thought that they can be changed if they meet with a famous spiritual leader.
They also think that they will grow up to be perfect Christians if they are members of a great church.
None of it is true.
The only answer is Jesus.
You have to encounter with Jesus.
I wonder why some people do not change and some people do.
Some people, even though they have been in church for decades, would not change.
20190331 Sunday Worship Sermon
“According to your faith” (Mark 9:14-29)
Jesus took three disciples, Peter, James and John to a high mountain.
On that mountain Jesus transfigured before these disciples.
His face shone and his clothes became dazzling white.
Today’s text introduces an event that occurred after Jesus and his disciples came down from the mountain.
While Jesus and his three disciples were away at the mountain, the other disciples who stayed behind in the village tried to heal a boy possessed by an evil spirit.
The disciples did not succeed to drive the evil spirit out of the boy’s body.
Let us imagine this scene and compare these two groups of disciples.
The disciples on the mountain just participated in Jesus’ glory and transfiguration.
But the disciples who were down in the village are struggling with a difficult problem.
What do you think about it?
Our Christian life is like that.
At times, we Christians experience glory and the work of heaven in our lives.
However, we still face our daily dilemma that makes us helpless and discouraged.
Yes, I think a Christian life is a cycle of these two.
When we are convinced with our faith in our salvation or filled up with Holy Spirit, we are experiencing the glory and work of heaven.
However, we find easily ourselves standing in front of the pain and problems.
The problems could be our own, our family’s, or even friends’.
Have you experienced such problems?
Problems that you could not comprehend or made you feel discouraged and helpless?
I am sure we all have.
Perhaps, some of us are suffering even at this very moment.
As I preached few weeks ago, prophet Elijah became discouraged after his encounter with hardship.
Elijah won the battle over the prophets of Baal.
He experienced the glory and power of God.
But the joy did not last long.
Elijah became afraid of Jezebel and ran for his life.
His pain was so great and he prayed to God to take his life away.
It seems ironic, but that is how we are.
Let’s look at today’s story.
The boy with an evil spirit had seizures.
According to Greek origin, the boy was born with this condition.
We can assume how difficult it must have been for the boy and his family.
The boy’s father must have tried different ways to heal his son.
Nothing worked for the boy to get healed.
And then, the father heard about Jesus and his disciples.
He heard that Jesus was able to heal sicknesses and perform miracles.
The father might have thought this Jesus could heal his son.
When the father arrived at the place where he could meet Jesus, Jesus was not around.
Jesus went up in the mountains with three disciples, leaving the other nine disciples there.
The father went to the remaining nine disciples and asked them to help his son.
Upon the father’s request, the disciples tried various ways to drive the evil spirit out of the boy’s body.
But, nothing worked.
Imagine how embarrassed the disciples must have been.
In this chaotic moment, Jesus came down from the mountain and realized the situation that his disciples were faced with.
The disciples asked Jesus a very important question.
They asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
They wanted to ask why they could not solve the problem on their own?
And Jesus answered the question.
“You faithless generation, How much longer must I be among you?”
Jesus scolded his disciples for not having faith.
I believe Jesus says the same thing to us now.
Jesus teaches us how our faith can turn despair to hope through this story.
We experience incomprehensive pains and difficulties in our lives.
Jesus wants to strengthen us to overcome those obstacles with faith.
Jesus says that we must have faith.
We need to learn and obtain this faith so we can overcome all the hardships in our life without getting despair.
I would like to look at this faith in three different perspectives.
First, we need to have faith in Jesus.
To whom did the boy’s father visit first?
He went to the disciples.
The boy’s father was hoping that the disciples knew the solutions.
But the result was disappointing.
The disciples could not do anything for this boy.
They could not solve the problem.
Have you experienced something similar?
Perhaps you know somebody in great pain.
All you could say is “Go to church. Have a religion”.
That person would take your advice and decide to go to church.
He would participate in a worship service and pray as he was told.
He would ask pastors to pray for him and ask for consultation.
Despite of all his effort to be religious, nothing worked for him.
I am not saying that pastoral leadership is useless.
I am saying that the first thing we need to seek is a firm foundational relationship with our lord.
Seeking help from people because they are in certain positions in church might not provide you with the right answer.
Also, please understand that your active participation in various church ministries does not guarantee your problems to be solved.
Those are like street signs.
The street signs would show you how to get to your destination.
They are not the destination itself.
What is church?
You could come to church every Sunday, but remain unchanged, and stay as the same old person.
Coming only to church, would not change us.
You have to seek Jesus with all your heart and meet Jesus personally.
Pastoral teachings and counseling are directing you to Jesus.
However, many Christians are confused by the thought that they can be changed if they meet with a famous spiritual leader.
They also think that they will grow up to be perfect Christians if they are members of a great church.
None of it is true.
The only answer is Jesus.
You have to encounter with Jesus.
I wonder why some people do not change and some people do.
Some people, even though they have been in church for decades, would not change.
Do you know why?