Mk 9:14-29
Trust: The major characters in the story are the disciples and the boy’s father, and the focus is faith. There is no contest between Jesus and the mute spirit. Jesus simply rebukes the spirit, and it obeys him. The cause for Jesus’ action is made clear: the faith of the boy’s father.
Jesus evokes faith from the boy’s father. The man responds with some faith and asks Jesus to supply whatever is missing. Thus, the man is held up to the reader as an example of authentic discipleship, in contrast to the disciples who are unable to drive out the mute spirit because, according to Jesus, they are faithless; they do not trust in God. They do not rely on God’s power when acting; that is, they do not pray.