Mark 9:23

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Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

Mark 9:23 (NKJV)

"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes."

Mark 9:23 (NIV)

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 9:23 (KJV)

"What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes."

Mark 9:23 (NLT)

And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."

Mark 9:23 (ESV)

And Jesus said to him, "'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes."

Mark 9:23 (NASB)

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org

Jesus said to him, "[You say to Me,] 'If You can?' All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!"

Mark 9:23 (AMP)

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org

And Jesus said to him, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes!

Mark 9:23 (AMPC)

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC), Copyright © 1954, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org

Jesus said, "'If?' There are no 'ifs' among believers. Anything can happen."

Mark 9:23 (MSG)

Scripture quotations from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

New Covenant Meaning

Jesus Turns the Question Around

The father in Mark 9 came to Jesus saying, "If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." He placed the uncertainty on Jesus. Jesus takes that uncertainty and redirects it entirely. "If you can believe." He is not questioning His own ability. He is shifting the conversation to the only variable that actually matters on the human side: faith. Jesus never had a question about whether He could. His question was whether the man was ready to trust. This is not Jesus being harsh. It is Jesus being honest about how the system works. God's power is not in question. The operating switch for experiencing it in a given situation is belief.

All Things Are Possible to Him Who Believes

This is one of the most expansive statements Jesus ever made. All things are possible. Not some things, not the things that fall within a reasonable category, not the things that seem medically or practically feasible. All things. The scope of what belief unlocks is limited only by what God's word promises and what His nature allows. This does not mean belief is a magic formula you attach to self-serving requests. It means that when a person is genuinely trusting God, aligned with His word, and reaching toward what He has said, the ceiling of what is possible rises to match His ability. And His ability has no ceiling.

In the New Covenant, the believer has even greater access to God's power than the father in Mark 9 did, because the New Covenant believer carries the Holy Spirit inside them. Romans 8:11 says the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. That Spirit is the power source behind "all things are possible." Faith in the New Covenant is not straining to believe hard enough. It is agreeing with what God has already said and already done. Hebrews 11:1 calls faith the substance of things hoped for. It is not wishful thinking. It is confident trust in a God who has already demonstrated His power through the resurrection.

Application for Your Life

Bring Your Honest Doubt and Ask for More Faith

The father in this story did something remarkable. In the very next verse (v. 24), he said, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" He did not pretend to have more faith than he did. He brought what he had and asked for the rest. That is exactly the right move. Jesus did not turn him away for admitting his struggle. The miracle still happened. If you are fighting doubt today, you do not have to fake certainty. Come honestly, bring what you have, and ask the Lord to build the faith you are still developing. That is not a weak prayer. That is one of the most faithful prayers a person can pray.

Let This Verse Reset What You Think Is Possible

Many believers unconsciously operate with a list of things they believe God can do and a separate list of things they have decided are not realistic. Mark 9:23 does not leave room for that second list. All things are possible to him who believes. Before you decide something is beyond what you should pray for, bring it to God first. Let Him tell you if it is outside His will. Do not disqualify yourself on His behalf. Come with the request, bring your belief, and let God be the one who defines the boundaries of what is possible in your situation.

Prayer Based on This Verse

Lord Jesus, I receive Your word today: all things are possible to him who believes. I choose to believe. And where my belief is shaky, I ask You to help my unbelief. I am not coming to You with a ceiling already in place on what I think You can do. I am coming with open hands and a believing heart. There are things in my life that look impossible from where I am standing, and I am laying them before You right now. Nothing is too hard for You. Nothing is outside Your reach. I believe You can do this. I trust You with the outcome. In Jesus name. Amen.