How Long?

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Mark 9:14–22
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How Long?
The Christian Church is all about the Word of God. It is all about Jesus. When God wants you to know him, he shows you Jesus, he preaches Jesus, he puts Jesus on your lips. Jesus take the burden of our unbelief. He takes our sins. He takes the enemies of heaven. He puts them all on his cross so that he can defeat them in his death. He crushes the head of the serpent and he steals the sting away from death. He grabs the victory from the grave and he gives you the gifts of heaven. Thus in our times of sorrow and our time of need, he bids us come to him. “Bring the boy to me.” We find peace in the Word preached. We find comfort in the Sacraments given to us. This Jesus has compassion on this man and he has compassion on you. The compassion of Jesus always moves him to action. He was moved to go to the cross for you. He died and rose again. All of this he did for you. Now he dwells with you and fights for you. He never leaves you.