Daily Bread 2010 - Mark 9
Daily Bread 2010 – Mark 9
The Healing of a Boy with an Evil Spirit
14When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
17A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18Whenever 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."
19"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
20So 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.
21Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. 22"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
24Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
26The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
29He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
As soon as Jesus comes back down from the mountain where He was transfigured, he goes right back into the ministry of bringing in God’s kingdom. He encounters a boy who is possessed by an evil spirit. It is interesting that the characteristics of what happens to the boy (since he was young) are similar to that of an epileptic seizure, but I think it would be wrong to assume that all seizures like this are caused by demonic influence. (Having had 3 Grand Mal seizures a couple of years ago, I wouldn’t rule out that the devil might have had something to do with it, but to always make that a cause and effect relationship is very dangerous theologically!)
Anyways apparently the father had taken the boy to the disciples who couldn’t help or deliver him from this spirit. Jesus asks the man a few questions, and then the man says, “If you can, please help us!” Jesus responds, “If I can, everything is possible for those who believe.” Interestingly he transfers the onus off of him onto the man and his believing what is possible through Jesus. The man responds “I believe, help my unbelief!”
This is a very teachable moment. The man believes in Jesus, but is not so sure he believes him enough that he can heal his son, especially after his disciples couldn’t do it. So Jesus commands the evil spirit to leave and never come back again. (Note the second part of the deliverance prayer!)
The boy is healed and then in private Jesus tells the disciples that this kind can only come out in prayer. A confusing statement if one assumes the disciples had prayed too. This story leaves us wondering what was it about Jesus’ prayer that delivered the boy from the spirits? What was it about the disciples’ prayers that didn’t bring the deliverance?
Of course we all want to know the answer to this question, but I think the answer has something to do with the authority with which Jesus prayed, and the honesty of the man to admit that he believed, but asked that Jesus help his unbelief. These honest prayers are the ones I believe our Heavenly Father loves answering. It shows us that our faith or belief can grow over time to become more confident of God’s promises and authority over all things including sickness.
Prayer: God give us faith to trust you in all things including the healing of the many diseases and sicknesses around us. We believe help our unbelief! Jesus thank you for the power and authority you lived with and may we increasingly exercise our power in faith as your disciples today. Amen.
The Healing of a Boy with an Evil Spirit
14When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.
17A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18Whenever 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."
19"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."
20So 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.
21Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
"From childhood," he answered. 22"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
24Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
26The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
29He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."
As soon as Jesus comes back down from the mountain where He was transfigured, he goes right back into the ministry of bringing in God’s kingdom. He encounters a boy who is possessed by an evil spirit. It is interesting that the characteristics of what happens to the boy (since he was young) are similar to that of an epileptic seizure, but I think it would be wrong to assume that all seizures like this are caused by demonic influence. (Having had 3 Grand Mal seizures a couple of years ago, I wouldn’t rule out that the devil might have had something to do with it, but to always make that a cause and effect relationship is very dangerous theologically!)
Anyways apparently the father had taken the boy to the disciples who couldn’t help or deliver him from this spirit. Jesus asks the man a few questions, and then the man says, “If you can, please help us!” Jesus responds, “If I can, everything is possible for those who believe.” Interestingly he transfers the onus off of him onto the man and his believing what is possible through Jesus. The man responds “I believe, help my unbelief!”
This is a very teachable moment. The man believes in Jesus, but is not so sure he believes him enough that he can heal his son, especially after his disciples couldn’t do it. So Jesus commands the evil spirit to leave and never come back again. (Note the second part of the deliverance prayer!)
The boy is healed and then in private Jesus tells the disciples that this kind can only come out in prayer. A confusing statement if one assumes the disciples had prayed too. This story leaves us wondering what was it about Jesus’ prayer that delivered the boy from the spirits? What was it about the disciples’ prayers that didn’t bring the deliverance?
Of course we all want to know the answer to this question, but I think the answer has something to do with the authority with which Jesus prayed, and the honesty of the man to admit that he believed, but asked that Jesus help his unbelief. These honest prayers are the ones I believe our Heavenly Father loves answering. It shows us that our faith or belief can grow over time to become more confident of God’s promises and authority over all things including sickness.
Prayer: God give us faith to trust you in all things including the healing of the many diseases and sicknesses around us. We believe help our unbelief! Jesus thank you for the power and authority you lived with and may we increasingly exercise our power in faith as your disciples today. Amen.
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