Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Matthew 17:14-23 (NIV)
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” 17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” [21]
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
Up to this point, the disciples have seen Jesus do amazing things, yet they and others still do not have consistent faith in Him or His power. They cannot drive out demons and when Jesus predicts his death and resurrection they are filled with grief. The seed of faith has not grown and will not begin to fully produce until after Jesus defeats death. Where do you feel hopeless? Is there something in life that continues to cause grief and despair? Or maybe on those days when the house is a disaster, you got nothing done at work and everyone seems to be driving you nuts, you just feel helpless. The resurrected Jesus is promising us that even a little bit of faith that believes He is with us each and every day will grow and “move mountains”.