Lenten Reader | Day 21

March 13th, 2026

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

"What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

"You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Mark 9:14-29

Everything is Possible

Belief, Prayer, Possibilities. These are all words we see Jesus say in this passage, and these are all words we think about in our lives each day. Possibility to get the right education or job. Pray to find the right partner in life. Belief that you’ll create a wonderful family and life for them. Frequently we need help in these endeavors. We seek counseling, church groups, family members, and friends to help us make choices in our lives.

In this passage, when the father needed to seek possibility for his son, prayer for speech, and a belief that someone could help him and his family, he called on Jesus and said “Teacher.” A teacher, by definition, is someone who imparts knowledge, skills, and values – acting as an instructor, mentor, or guide to help others grow and develop. A biblical teacher may be a spiritually gifted instructor that imparts God’s truth, trains others in Scripture, and equips those around them in spiritual growth. Throughout the Bible, Jesus is called creator, healer, wonderful counselor, mighty God.

In this passage the father is seeking a spiritual teacher – not just a healer – for his son. Not just a counselor for himself but someone that can truly teach him the ways of spiritual growth by belief, prayer, and possibility. This is why the father says “Teacher” to Jesus. He not only wants Jesus to teach his child to speak but also to teach him how to believe and grow spiritually as well.

Jesus does this for us today as well, we just need to call out: “Teacher, show me how to pray more fiercely.” “Teacher, develop me to include You in life choices.” “Teacher, help me overcome any unbelief, and strengthen my belief in your teachings.” “Teacher, open possibilities for me to speak words of love, truth, and faith to all those around me.”

Mark 9:23: Jesus said, “Everything is possible, for one who believes.”

Sara Strong