seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Mark 9:14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As 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.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever 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 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So 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.
21 Jesus 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 one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer."
I forget about this story. This poor little boy spent his whole life trying to avoid convulsions. Epilepsy affects a lot of kids these days. I wonder if this little boy had epilepsy. It sounds like he's having seizures. At any rate, the disciples are accused of not being able to stop the seizures because of their lack of Belief.
I don't want to stomp on the words of some Sunday School teachers or Preachers. Not everyone in the Bible believed in God. Not everyone in the Bible believed Jesus to be the Messiah. As I just said, I don't think every disciple really Believed Jesus was the Messiah. I mean wouldn't that be a major miracle of its own? It's hard to find twelve men all of one mind. I mean come on guys.... they were promised a Messiah and Jesus didn't save anyone.... well except those who needed a healing. They were expecting a King David and they got Doctor Spock.
The teachers of the law were arguing with the disciples. Maybe that increased the doubt in the disciples' mind that they could be capable of healing anyone of anything. If you tell someone they are useless long enough, they will start to believe they are useless. Maybe that's why they were unable to pull the demon from this little boy.
Jesus lost His cool. He said, "How much longer!!!!" See I told you He was testing the timeline. He needed these men to believe in themselves enough to make their way around the world teaching people "Love God and Love One Another". He didn't have much time. His mission was just about coming to a close.
Now look at verse 29.... there's the curve ball.
Was Jesus saying we should pray for healing? Or was He saying it would take a lot of prayer and fasting to bring Believers strong enough to run demons away.
I can crochet a scarf in a few hours. Some people would not be able to make the first stitch come out right.
Jesus was there when God created humans. Jesus knew everything about us. He had been around humans since Adam and Eve. Those disciples were brand new to the healing human game. They were still trying to make that first stitch work right. They had a lot to learn!
Expecting King David and they got Doctor Spock!
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