When I think about my father, he was the disciplinarian in our household. My mother didn’t have any problems with doing this when we did something wrong. When my mother said, I’m going to tell your father and he is going to deal with you. These were words I didn’t want to hear, because when he got home you knew what was going to happen. 

My father was not big on hugging or telling you he loved you, but it was evident how he felt about us. Everyday, during the week he was leaving home by 5:30 in the morning going to work, and worked part time Friday and Saturday nights. We had a roof over our heads, clothes to wear, and food to eat. His actions made it clear how he felt about his family. When he wasn’t working, he would attend our games and activities we had at school. He did all of this to make sure we had what was needed. Being a father means you are willing to put your family needs before your own.  

In Mark 9:14-29, we have a situation where a father brought his son to Jesus to be healed. It does not state how he knew about Jesus, nor do we know how far he had to travel. This man was willing to do whatever was necessary to get his son to Jesus. When he arrives to where he expects Jesus to be, He is not there. So, this man asked His disciples if they could help, and they tried but couldn’t. This man was disappointed, and felt this was a waste of his time. Then the man saw the Scribes arguing with the disciples, and saying y’all don’t have the ability to heal this man’s son. I can see the disciples responding to the Scribes, and this man is dejected by all that is happening. It also appears no one cared about his son’s condition. 

When things appear to be at their worst, Jesus shows up, and the man tells Him what happened. Jesus is disappointed in His disciples and tells them how He feels. Then He asks the man to bring his son to Him, and once he is in front of Jesus, the spirit immediately convulses the boy. Thinking this would cause Jesus to loose focus and become overwhelmed like His disciples. That didn’t work, Jesus begins to engage in conversation with the father. The father shares with Jesus this has been going on since he was a child, and now he is getting anxious, because Jesus is not doing anything. The father says to Jesus, “if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” The father has reached a breaking point, and does not want his son to continue to go through this. The father is hurting by seeing what his son is going through. Then Jesus says to him, “If you are able. All things can be done to the one who believes.”. The father says, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Jesus needed this father to come clean about how he was feeling at that point, because there were two people in need of healing. There is no doubt what Jesus was planning to do, but he needed the father to tell Him the truth. Once he did his son was set free, the Lord needed for us to tell Him the truth, and this is what this father did and his son was healed.  This father was willing to do what was needed for his son, and the same is true about your father. He might not verbalize his love, but his actions will show you just how much he cares about you. Continue to walk in your blessings. Happy Father’s Day!