Goodness of All Men

How often we have been taught that our inablity to deal with problems in life, is because we do not have enough faith. Oh, what needless condemnation that produces!

In chapter 9, Mark relates the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. Jesus, who never exalted Himself but always glorified the Father, revealed this glory that the Father has hidden within all men. The overwhelming goodness of the Father is always present in all of His creation, even though few can see it.

Paul said it this way,

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:18-19).

The Greek word is ἀποκάλυψις (apokalupsis), which means, laying bear, making naked, or a disclosure of truth. The truth is God has immensely loved all His creation and has put an overwhelming amount of grace and glory inside of all people. In the end the husk will be removed and all people will stand in awe at what is inside of their neighbors. (By the way, this is the word that is also used as the title for the last book of our Bibles).

Immediately afterwards, Jesus is confronted with a demon-possessed son at the base of the mountain. He laments, “O faithless generation…” (vs 19), and this begins our descent into condemnation.

While most manuscripts read, Ω γενεα απιστος (O unbelieving generation), the oldest Greek manuscript, P45, uses the phrase, ω γενεα διεστραμμ ενη′ (O perverse generation). This word is found in Matthew’s account of the story and reveals a slightly different understanding. Jesus isn’t criticizing a lack of faith that might be needed to cast out devils (elsewhere we learn that faith the size of a mustard seed is sufficient), He’s criticizing their lack of understanding that the goodness and glory of the Father is in all men. The story that was revealed at the top of the mountain is being played out at the bottom. God’s glory and goodness dwells in the heart of all men, therefore the devils have no right to dwell there!

In verse 22 the poor father begs Jesus, “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus’ reply has changed through the course of the early manuscripts. The comparison of the first half of His reply reads:

ει δυνη - if you can (P45, א, and B – the earliest manuscripts, from 250-350 AD.)

ει δυνασαι πιστευσαι - if you can believe (A and most manuscripts from 375 AD and later)

It’s easy to see how πιστευσαι was added at a later point.

Another interesting feature is that Jesus was simply repeating a phrase that the man had used in his question:

“But if You can do (ει δυνη) anything, have compassion on us and help us.” (vs 22).

Jesus is rhetorically asking, “If you can (ει δυνη)?!” He is absolutely not asking the father to believe, but is challenging the father's choice of words of Jesus' ability.

The second half of Jesus’ reply is also interesting – “all things are possible to him who believes.” (NKJV). Once again let’s show the textual development:

παντα δυνατα – are possible (P45, around 250 AD.)

παντα δυνατα τω πιστευοντι – are possible to him who believes (all other manuscripts, which are later)

Jesus simply said, “…all things are possible”, and the father’s heart-wrenching, tearful cry was, “Lord I believe. Help my unbelief.” Jesus wasn’t pinning the success of the operation on the father’s ability to believe that Jesus could cast out demons. All parents believe (even to a fault) in the inherent goodness of their own children. But this poor man had seen demons ravage the body of his precious son since childhood, to the point where his belief in the goodness that was in that body had been pounded on for too long. He looks up at the Master, and pleads, “I still believe, but please help me to believe in my own son again.”

I look at faith differently now – it is both simpler and harder. Simpler because I don’t have to judge men, and harder for the same reason. I think it is easier to come up with the faith to cast out demons, than it is to believe in the goodness of all men. Lord, help my unbelief!