Jesus Takes Over: Mark 9:19-29
“19) And He *answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” 20) They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21) And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22) It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23) And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 24) Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” 25) When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” 26) “After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27) But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. 28) When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29) And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”” Mark 9:19-29
Remember from the previous section, the nine disciples could not cast this spirit out. They had tried when Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration but failed. (See Mark 9:14-18)
When Jesus took over, the first thing He did was comment on their unbelief. The unbelief related to the true identity and authority of Jesus Christ.
I wonder what would have happened in this story if Jesus had turned to Peter, James and John and said, “Ok, you three were with me on the Mount of Transfiguration, you know who I am; cast out this Spirit!” I suspect they would have had very different results than the nine! Their understanding of Jesus Christ took a huge leap forward on the Mount of Transfiguration.
I want to make a point, the unbelief or lack of faith Jesus exposed lacked an anchor. Faith in faith is as ineffectual as no faith at all. Faith in doctors is only as good as their ability. Faith in anyone or anything is only as good as the object it is directed toward. You can have great faith in a small thing and be tragically disappointed.
The nine were wavering in their faith in the identity and authority of Jesus Christ most likely because of their interaction with the skeptic Scribes. (See Mark 9:14) Peter, James and John just had their understanding of Jesus Christ take a huge leap forward on the mountain top.
Instead of involving the three, Jesus just stepped in and took over with the deliverance of the boy. I can imagine Peter, James and John looking at the nine and saying; “Watch this, that unclean spirit doesn’t have a chance!”
I want to underline something from the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Healing and deliverance are both based on the authority and identity of Jesus Christ. They are not dependent on an anointing we have, the amount of our faith or some spiritual gift.
But you say; “I object, wasn’t the problem with the nine disciples and the boys father a lack of faith?” Not exactly! Let’s review the dialogue between Jesus and the boys father in verses 22-24.
The boys father said; “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” You have to admit, the boys father was both sincere and desperate, but there was a problem. He was not convinced Jesus could set his son free from demonic torment. He lacked faith in Jesus Christ!
The response of Jesus in verse 23 was profound; “And Jesus said to him, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Jesus exposed that the boys father lacked faith in His identity and authority! That was the root of the problem for both the boys father and the nine disciples.
In verse 24, the father replied to Jesus, “I do believe, help my unbelief.” Question, “How did Jesus answer his prayer?”
Verses 25-27 records His answer; “He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” Then he took Him by the hand and raised him up.”
Jesus simply displayed His authority and power. He took charge! He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
I want to say this clearly; faith, grace and power all increase according to our growing understanding of the identity and corresponding authority of Jesus Christ! We don’t need more faith or a bigger anointing, we need a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ!
If you doubt me, go back and study Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21, and Colossians 1:9-23. Our effectives expands as our knowledge of Jesus Christ deepens! We need growing and focused faith in the identity and authority of Jesus Christ. He must be the object and anchor of our faith.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“19) And He *answered them and *said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!” 20) They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21) And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22) It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” 23) And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” 24) Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” 25) When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” 26) “After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!” 27) But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. 28) When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29) And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”” Mark 9:19-29
Remember from the previous section, the nine disciples could not cast this spirit out. They had tried when Jesus was on the Mount of Transfiguration but failed. (See Mark 9:14-18)
When Jesus took over, the first thing He did was comment on their unbelief. The unbelief related to the true identity and authority of Jesus Christ.
I wonder what would have happened in this story if Jesus had turned to Peter, James and John and said, “Ok, you three were with me on the Mount of Transfiguration, you know who I am; cast out this Spirit!” I suspect they would have had very different results than the nine! Their understanding of Jesus Christ took a huge leap forward on the Mount of Transfiguration.
I want to make a point, the unbelief or lack of faith Jesus exposed lacked an anchor. Faith in faith is as ineffectual as no faith at all. Faith in doctors is only as good as their ability. Faith in anyone or anything is only as good as the object it is directed toward. You can have great faith in a small thing and be tragically disappointed.
The nine were wavering in their faith in the identity and authority of Jesus Christ most likely because of their interaction with the skeptic Scribes. (See Mark 9:14) Peter, James and John just had their understanding of Jesus Christ take a huge leap forward on the mountain top.
Instead of involving the three, Jesus just stepped in and took over with the deliverance of the boy. I can imagine Peter, James and John looking at the nine and saying; “Watch this, that unclean spirit doesn’t have a chance!”
I want to underline something from the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Healing and deliverance are both based on the authority and identity of Jesus Christ. They are not dependent on an anointing we have, the amount of our faith or some spiritual gift.
But you say; “I object, wasn’t the problem with the nine disciples and the boys father a lack of faith?” Not exactly! Let’s review the dialogue between Jesus and the boys father in verses 22-24.
The boys father said; “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” You have to admit, the boys father was both sincere and desperate, but there was a problem. He was not convinced Jesus could set his son free from demonic torment. He lacked faith in Jesus Christ!
The response of Jesus in verse 23 was profound; “And Jesus said to him, ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Jesus exposed that the boys father lacked faith in His identity and authority! That was the root of the problem for both the boys father and the nine disciples.
In verse 24, the father replied to Jesus, “I do believe, help my unbelief.” Question, “How did Jesus answer his prayer?”
Verses 25-27 records His answer; “He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.” Then he took Him by the hand and raised him up.”
Jesus simply displayed His authority and power. He took charge! He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
I want to say this clearly; faith, grace and power all increase according to our growing understanding of the identity and corresponding authority of Jesus Christ! We don’t need more faith or a bigger anointing, we need a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ!
If you doubt me, go back and study Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21, and Colossians 1:9-23. Our effectives expands as our knowledge of Jesus Christ deepens! We need growing and focused faith in the identity and authority of Jesus Christ. He must be the object and anchor of our faith.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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