Jesus is the Faithful One

Rev. Matt Ulmer, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Mark 9:14-29. While Peter, James, and John struggled to understand the events of Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain, the other nine disciples struggled with unbelief down the mountain. Despite their previous successes, they were now unable to cast out a demon in Jesus’ absence. Jesus laments the lack of faith that surrounds Him and speaks further to the boy’s father. When the father’s faith falters, Jesus calls the man to trust in Him as the One for whom all things are possible because Jesus is the faithful One. The man cries out to Jesus in prayer, and Jesus answers his prayer by casting the demon out of the boy and saving him from death. When the disciples question Jesus about their failure, He points them to their need for prayer, not as magic, but as trust in the only One who is powerful to answer. “The Gospel in Action” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Mark. The Evangelist hits the ground running with the very first verse of his Gospel account, and he never lets up the pace. As one deed of Jesus comes right after another, always paired with His authoritative Word, St. Mark proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, revealed conclusively by His death on the cross.