Lessons in Faith
TRANSLATION
(14) And when they came to the other disciples, they saw a great crowd around them and the teachers of the Law arguing with them. (15) And immediately the crowd, when they saw (Jesus), were greatly amazed, ran up to him, and greeted him. (16) And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” (17) And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought to you my son who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute. (18) Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were not able (to do so). (19) And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long must I bear with you? Bring him to me.”
(20) And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw (Jesus), it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled around foaming at the mouth. (21) And Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. (22) And it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” (23) And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible to the one who believes.” (24) Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” (25) When Jesus saw that the crowd came running together, he rebuked the demon, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, leave him and never enter him again!” (26) And after crying out and convulsing him, it departed, leaving the boy like a corpse so that most of them said, “He is dead.” (27) But Jesus took him by the hand, lifted him up, and he rose up.
(28) And when he entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why was it that we could not drive it out?” (29) And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out apart from prayer.”
OBSERVATIONS
While Jesus, accompanied by Peter, James, and John, had been on the mountaintop experiencing the transfiguration, the other disciples had remained in the valley below and had been confronted with a father’s plea to deliver his son from demonic possession. Their failure gave Jesus the opportunity to demonstrate his power over the enemy and to teach his disciples (and us) important lessons about faith.
Two groups of repetitions can be found in this segment. The first group described the victim: “boy” used three times (vss. 20 & 26), “spirit” (four times in vss. 17, 20, & 25), “mute” (vss. 17 & 25), and “cast it out” (vss. 18 & 28). The second group focused on his father: “if you can” (vss. 22 & 23) and “believe(s)” and “unbelief” (vss. 23 & 24).
OUTLINE
I. The problem: Jesus’ disciples failed to cast the demon out of the boy. (14-19)
II. The solution: Jesus healed the boy in response to the father’s faith. (20-27)
III. The explanation: Jesus taught his disciples the need for prayer. (28 & 29)
IDEA STATEMENT
When we learn to trust fully in Jesus’ enablement rather than in our own efforts, we will be freed to serve him with power and authority.
APPLICATION
We should pay careful attention to how this story unfolded. The father brought his demonized son to Jesus, believing that he would heal him (vs. 17). In Jesus’ absence, the disciples attempted to deliver his son but were unable to do so (vs. 18). The father’s faith was shaken to the point where he pleaded with Jesus when he showed up, “If you can do anything” (vs. 22). To revitalize his faith, Jesus responded with the challenge, “‘If you can!’ All things are possible for one who believes” (vs. 23). The father immediately offered the brief prayer that those who have struggled with doubt and faith have constantly voiced ever since: “I believe! Help my unbelief!” With this brutally honest confession of his inner turmoil, the father gave evidence of a faltering faith that resulted in his son’s healing. In essence, he was admitting, “I have nowhere else to turn. You are my last hope for my son’s healing.” In such moments of desperation, we learn to trust in the power of our glorious Lord.
The passage closed with the disciples asking Jesus why they had been unable to heal the boy. Rather than rebuke them for their failure, he taught them regarding the vital importance of consciously depending on God’s power in prayer when engaging in spiritual warfare. Just as the father had needed to learn more about the nature of faith, so also the disciples had much to learn when it came to trusting God for the power they needed to serve effectively.