Mark 9:23
A man brought his son who was unable to speak because he was possessed by an evil spirit to Jesus. The boy had suffered severely as a result and his father desperately needed healing for his son. But when he got there, he didn’t meet Jesus, he met his disciples and so he asked them to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.
When Jesus came, the father of the boy told Jesus what had happened. Jesus asked for the boy to be brought to him. So they brought the boy, but when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father of the boy,
“How long has this been happening?”
He replied, “Since he was very small. The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can.”
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” Mark 9:23
The father instantly replied with tears, “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”
Jesus rebuked the evil spirit to come out of the child. Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy laid there motionless, and he appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd of onlookers, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
Afterwards, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him why they could not cast out the evil spirit. Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer and fasting.”
Jesus repeatedly emphasized on the need for us to believe and have faith in order to fully experience the wonderful manifestations of God’s love. In Mark 10:27, he said “With God all things are possible.” And in Mark 11: 23 he said,
“For whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Mark 10:23
He went on further;
“Therefore I say unto you, whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” Mark 10:24
The healing of the boy with an evil spirit taught me three lessons.
1. When Jesus asked for the boy to be brought, the boy’s condition seemed to worsen, he had a violent convulsion and this would have been frightening for the boy’s father. His faith seemed to have wavered, he cried with tears for Jesus to help his unbelief. Sometimes when we are faced with trials and tough situations, our faith may seem to waver, we may begin to doubt just like the boy’s father, in such cases we need to cry to God to help our faith and strengthen us.
2. With faith, all things are possible, even seemingly impossible situations. When Jesus ordered the evil spirit out of the boy, the boy suffered another violent convulsion and then went so still that the crowd of onlookers began to murmur he was dead. Jesus ignored them and helped the boy stand on his feet. We must shut our ears from what people say during tough situations and focus on what God’s word says.
3. With faith comes prayer and fasting. The disciples could not cast out the evil spirit because they needed to pray more. As believers, we must also adapt a prayerful lifestyle. Our faith is expressed through prayer.
Prayer: Heavenly father, we ask that you strengthen our faith and help me live a prayerful life. We pray for grace to always look to you in every circumstance and that our faith remains rooted in your word in Jesus name we pray. Amen
References
The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Mark 9: 14-29
The Holy Bible, King James Version, Mark 9-11
Daily Bread with Pastor Mike Anderson, Jesus Healed A Boy Possessed By An Impure Spirit
Comments