As Jesus came down from the mountain and approached the rest of the disciples, he was confronted with unbelief of differing degrees.

Firstly there were the teachers of the Law who didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah, and opposed him and his followers where they could.

Secondly were the disciples who failed to use the powers they had been given to heal the boy.

Finally there was the man who had brought his son to be healed. It would seem he had a hint of faith, as he had brought his son to be healed, but his conversation with Jesus showed what faith he had.

Jesus’ initial response to all three groups was to berate them for their unbelief. He then focuses in on the man and his son. He chides the man for questioning his ability to heal.

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mk 9:23

At this the man asks Jesus to increase his faith. Jesus, upon assessing the situation then heals the boy demonstrating the ability he had to the man, showing the man that his faith was well-founded.

As we go through life, we can be like one of the three types of believer. We can fail to recognise Jesus as our Saviour, and even seek to oppose him and his followers.

We can be like his disciples who have some faith, but fail to use the abilities he gives us to do his will. If this is the case we need to spend more time in prayer, that our knowledge of him might grow, and so might our faith.

For this is what the man who brought his son had asked. Even though our faith may be small, we can ask that our faith might be increased. Though we may doubt the abilities of Jesus, through his Spirit our faith will grow.

As Paul writes his letter to the church in Rome, he makes it clear that our righteousness before God is not something we’ve earned. For we, as sinners, can do nothing of ourselves to make us right before God, but righteousness is only through faith in his Son. Our salvation, from the condemnation we deserve for our sin, is by the grace of God alone. God has done everything necessary to reconcile us to him. For it is only when we are righteous that we be able to know God, that our sins will no longer separate us from him.

Through the righteousness imputed to us in his Son, we are accepted into God’s presence. His Spirit dwells in us and works in us, slowly renewing us into the people we were intended to be. Only then will we be able to do that which we were designed – to glorify our God, and subsequently find peace and joy.

As this righteousness is not of our own making, but sealed with the blood of God the Son, we are assured of it, for his sacrifice was complete and effective.  We have a great hope, not in the way the world sees hope, but a certainty which will result in our being with God in glory.