Mark 9:14-18

¹⁴ When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵ Just then, when the whole crowd saw him, they were astonished, and they ran forward to greet him. ¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” ¹⁷ Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a mute spirit; ¹⁸ and whenever it seizes him, it breaks him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes stiff; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not strong enough.”

the other disciples

I cannot really identify with the famous three who saw Jesus on the mountain. But I can identify with the other group of disciples who stayed behind, had trouble doing their job, and got involved in a theological argument with the scribes. Been there. Done that. I know Jesus was not happy with the mess that he found when he came down from the mountain. But I am grateful that he did not walk away from the other disciples. He remained faithful to them in spite of his disappointment. That is an encouragement to the rest of us, who will find ourselves identifying with this group more often than anything else.

LORD, thank you for your patience and faithfulness toward your disciples who try, even if we often fail.