Previously in the book of Mark we found Jesus giving the Twelve the power to heal and cast out demons. But a particularly difficult case has been brought to the nine disciples who did not go up on the mountain with Jesus. When Jesus, Peter, James, and John come down from the mountain, they are met with an emotionally charged and confusing scene. "When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them." (Mark 9:14)
"As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet Him." (Mark 9:15) I can just imagine their relief when they spot Jesus, for here is someone who can take charge of the situation.
"'What are you arguing with them about?' He asked. A man in the crowd answered, 'Teacher, I brought You my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked Your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.'" (Mark 9:17-18) This man brought his son to see Jesus, but Jesus was on the mountain with three of the disciples, so the man asked the remaining disciples to cast the spirit out of his son. They were unable to do so, giving Jesus' enemies an opportunity to verbally attack them. These detractors may have said something like, "We thought your Master endowed you with similar powers as His. Didn't we hear you were healing people in the villages of Galilee? Wasn't it reported that you cast out demons in the name of Jesus? We don't see any evidence of your ability to do these things. In our opinion, some form of trickery is afoot, and the reason you have failed today is because you aren't able to cast your heathen spells or work your magic tricks while we are watching you so closely."
It's tempting to believe the man's son is suffering only from a physical malady, perhaps epilepsy. It certainly sounds as if he is experiencing seizures. But I believe this man's assessment of his son's condition is correct: he is demon possessed. If he were not, Jesus would not speak directly to the demon as He does later on in today's passage. Jesus would not play into a false ideology.
In reply to the man's explanation of what everyone is arguing about, Jesus appears exasperated. "'You unbelieving generation,' Jesus replied, 'how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.'" (Mark 9:19) I think most likely Jesus is addressing His enemies who have been berating the disciples and arguing with them until they have become tired and frustrated and confused. He may also be addressing the nine disciples whose faith has not been able to stand in the face of so much opposition. When Jesus sent the Twelve out in pairs in Mark 6, we found them fully able to perform healings and exorcisms. But with Jesus and three of their number on the mountain, they became bogged down in doubts and fears. They endured a crisis of faith while Jesus was on the mountain, just as the children of Israel endured a crisis of faith while Moses was on the mountain.
"So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy's father, 'How long has he been like this?' 'From childhood,' he answered. 'It has often thrown him into the fire or water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us.'" (Mark 9:20-22) The true intentions of Satan are displayed in the ways the demon abuses this boy, for Satan only wants to "steal, kill and destroy". (John 10:10)
Jesus wants to encourage this distressed father in his faith, so He repeats the man's words back to him, "'If You can?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for one who believes.'" (Mark 9:23) Remember how Jesus was unable to heal many people in His hometown of Nazareth because of their lack of faith? The same principle is at work in today's passage. Jesus can make offers of healing to us all day long, but if we don't have the faith to accept His offers, we aren't going to receive our healing. In the same way, Jesus doesn't force salvation on anyone. We must believe He is who He says He is in order to be saved.
May the good Lord bless this unnamed father for saying what he says next! "Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24) Don't we sometimes believe and not believe at the same time? I've had to say to the Lord, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief." Thanks be to God that He is able to take what belief we have and make it grow. All we need to do is offer God what we have; He gives the increase. The boy's father cries out, "Lord, I do believe You are able to help us! But a part of me doubts it at the same time. Help me to have enough faith so that I may receive my request!"
"When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, He rebuked the impure spirit. 'You deaf and mute spirit,' He said, 'I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.' The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, 'He's dead.' But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up." (Mark 9:25-27) The boy must have passed out due to the strain on his body that the demon caused as it departed, but at the touch of Jesus he comes around and is completely normal.
"After Jesus had gone indoors, His disciples asked Him privately, 'Why couldn't we drive it out?' He replied, 'This kind can come out only by prayer.'" (Mark 9:28-29) Now we now why these men became so discombobulated by the situation they faced today. They are guilty of letting their prayer life become sloppy. Jesus always takes time to be alone with God in prayer, but these men have not followed His example. There is a direct connection between their lack of prayer and their lack of faith. Had they been diligent in their prayer life, they would not have experienced their humiliating public defeat. How many times have we fallen into despair and defeat as a result of not maintaining our prayer connection with our Creator? I know this has been the cause of much of my own fear and doubt. Let's all resolve to be more like Jesus in our prayer habits. If we would just take a few quiet minutes every day to commune with the Father, I believe we'd meet with far fewer defeats in life. There is power in prayer. It's power that's available to us any time we want it. Let's all try to do better and see what great things our God accomplishes in our lives!
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