“An unbelieving generation”

Read Luke 9:37-42

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Despite their recognition of Jesus as the Messiah the disciples still had much to learn. Just as Moses when he came down from Sinai had met with the unbelief of the Israelites, so too Jesus after his mountain-top experience was immediately confronted with the unbelief of his disciples. That’s the main focus of this story in Luke (and Matthew).

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The disciples had been given authority to cast out evil spirits and previously had done so successfully (9:1; Mk.6:13). But not on this occasion (40), because they too belonged to an “unbelieving and perverse generation” which caused Jesus much grief and frustration (41). In Mark’s longer account the unbelief of the boy’s father is also a part of the story. This is in order to illustrate the contrasting point that “all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk.9:23).

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The father’s response, “I believe; help me overcome my unbelief”, is itself an expression of faith (Mk.9:24). It was not a request for more faith but for Jesus to help him despite his weakness. The disciples also needed to learn this, relying always on God through prayer rather than on a misplaced self-confidence because of previous success (Mk.9:29).