MARK 9:17-32

MARK 9:17-32

MARK 9:17-29 - Then turning to the father, He said, “Bring him unto Me.” The lad was brought to Jesus, and when He looked upon the boy, the evil spirit that was in him immediately “tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming”—like one in an epileptic fit. The Saviour looked down upon the lad with compassion; then turning to the father, He asked, “How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him.” Looking to Jesus, he made the pitiable plea, “If Thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.” It is evident that his faith was very imperfect. He believed in his heart that Jesus might be able to help, but he was not sure that He would be willing to do so. 

   “If thou canst believe.” Jesus turns things completely around. The “if” was on the seeker’s part. Where there is genuine faith “all things are possible to him that believeth.”

“Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.” As the tears streamed from his eyes, the anxious father asserted his faith; yet recognizing its weakness, he cried for increased confidence, that the Lord might undertake on his behalf. 

“Come out of him, and enter no more into him.” With a voice of authority the demon was called to release his victim and never to control him again.

“He was as one dead”—so strenuous was the convulsion as the evil, malignant fiend withdrew that the lad fell to the ground as though dead, so that many supposed he was actually gone. But it proved to be the demon’s last act ere the boy was completely freed from his malign influence.

“Jesus … lifted him up; and he arose.” Reaching out His hand, Jesus laid hold on that of the unconscious youth and, as He did so, consciousness and physical strength returned, and to the father’s joy his son came to his feet, healed, and in his right mind.

Leaving the throng the Master and His disciples entered the house, probably that of Peter, and when they were alone the disciples asked Him privately, “Why could not we cast him out?” Jesus answered, “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” Some manuscripts omit the last two words, and yet there seems to be a measure of evidence for their authority. The great point the Saviour made was this: that no one can have power over unclean spirits unless he is in intimate touch with God.

MARK 9:30-32 - As they walked along the roads He continued to expound the truths of the kingdom to them, and once more told them of the death He was soon to die, saying, “The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him; and after that He is killed, He shall rise the third day.” One would have thought no language could be clearer than this, and that anyone hearing it would have comprehended that which the Lord was seeking to make so plain. But we are told in verse 32, “They understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask Him.” That is, they felt reticent about exposing their own ignorance concerning a matter of which the Lord had so spoken so frequently, but whose meaning they could not seem to get. Doubtless the reason was that their minds were so set on the thought of the coming glory that the rejection and death of Him whom they believed to be Messiah seemed incredible.