Ministry With Us Instead Of For Us

Monday, July 11, 2011

Reading: Mark 9:14-29

Reflection: There is a great deal in this passage that I don't understand. For example, why did Jesus ask the father how long the boy has been in his present condition? Doesn't Jesus already know this? What difference does it make? Will the spirit be harder to deal with if he has been within the boy for a long period of time? And then we are told that it is when Jesus sees the crowd running to the scene that He decided to rebuke the spirit. Why is that? What difference does this make? If the crowd didn't come running, would Jesus have left the boy in his present state? These are confusing details, and I don't understand them. One thing that does seem clear is that our faith in Jesus plays a role in Jesus work in our lives. This seems to be Jesus point when He says that "...everything is possible for him who believes." Now, I don't personally think that this means Jesus' power is limited by our faith. Jesus has the power to do whatever He chooses. But I do think that Jesus chooses many times to do His ministry with us and through us, rather than just for us. In this way we participate with Jesus in the establishment and extension of His kingdom. This also reflects the reality that without Jesus, I can't accomplish meaningful things for God, and without me Jesus often chooses not to. So, as we go about our day, may we be looking not for Jesus to do things for us, as much as we look for Him to do things in us, with us, and through us.