THE LIFE OF CHRIST - MINISTRY OF WITHDRAWALS
Fourth Withdrawal
-Jesus Heals A Demoniac Boy Whom The Disciples Couldn’t Heal
-Mark 9:14-29; Matthew 17:14-20; Luke 9:37-43
-When Jesus, Peter, James and John returned from the transfiguration to the other nine apostles
a multitude was on hand. Within the multitude were scribes who were questioning the apostles.
The NASB and NIV say that the scribes were “arguing with them” (Mark 9:14).
-When the people saw Jesus they were amazed and ran to Him.
-We are not told why they were amazed. Some have suggested that Jesus face still shone somewhat
as a lingering effect of the transfiguration (similar to that of Moses when he came down from the
mountain where he had been in the presence of the glory of God - Ex 34). However, we know
that this idea is false due to the fact that it would contradict Jesus’ wishes and instructions for
secrecy regarding the transfiguration.
-Jesus asked the scribes what it was they were arguing with the apostles about.
-Notice that Jesus directed His question specifically to the scribes. This showed them that Jesus
knew what had been happening. Interestingly, the scribes did not answer but remained silent.
-At that time, a man in the multitude explained that he had brought his son who was possessed with
a demon to the apostles. However, they were not able to cast the demon out.
-By a combination of things regarding this account - the effects the demon had on the boy, the
demon’s actions when he saw Jesus and Jesus’ comments regarding this demon - it is made
very evident that this was a very evil and vicious demon.
-Jesus then issued a rebuke.
-“As there was no reason to accuse the apostles of perversity, it is evident that the rebuke of
Jesus is addressed generally to all and not particularly to the disciples…The disbelief of the
people was a constant grief to Jesus, but it must have been especially so in this case, for it
fostered and perpetuated this scene of weakness, mean-spiritedness, misery and suffering
which stood out in such sharp contrast with the peace, blessedness and glory from which he
had just come” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 424).
-Jesus instructed the people to bring the boy to Him. Upon those instructions, the demon “threw him
into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling about and foaming at the mouth” (Mark
9:20, NASB).
-Jesus then began a dialogue with the father of the boy. Jesus first asked how long the demon
had been with the child inflicting such torture. This dialogue was not for the benefit of Jesus but
for the benefit of the father - to reveal his lack of faith and therefore the need to improve it.
-Notice the words “if thou canst” in the words of the boy’s father. Jesus then turned these words
around to the boy’s father. Of course Jesus would have no difficulties with the demon. If any
difficulties existed, they were within the boy’s father. Upon hearing these words, the man
expressed belief and requested help for the strengthening of his faith. He certainly did not want
to serve as a barrier that would stand in the way of the healing of his son.
-As more people began to gather, Jesus cast the demon out and forbade him to enter into the boy again.
-The boy, his body exhausted from the long-felt effects of the demon, laid on the ground. Jesus
took him by the hand, lifted him up and delivered him to his father.
-The boy, having been persistently stricken by the demon - dumb, blind, many times cast to the
ground in convulsions with clinched teeth, foaming at the mouth and stiffness in his body, thrown
into fire and water - was now healed and in the arms of his father.
-The inability of the apostles to cast out the demon made the greatness of Jesus’ power more evident
to the people. As a result, “they were all amazed at the mighty power of God” (Luke 9:43).
-Later, while in a house, the apostles inquired as to why they could not cast the demon out
of the boy.
-The key element regarding this situation was their faith - their “littleness of …faith”
(Matt 17:20, NASB).
-Prayer and fasting (Matt 17:21, KJV) were also necessary for such a vicious demon but the
real issue at hand was their lack of faith.
-Special note regarding Matthew 17:21:
-There are some questions as to whether or not this verse should be included in this passage.
-Some of the ancient manuscripts that have been utilized in the translation process omit it.
-However, the early church fathers were known to acknowledge it. So, if it was the result
of a mistaken insertion (interpolation) on the part of a scribe, it happened very early.
-Perhaps this is why the KJV translators included it.
-The NASB includes this verse but has it in brackets while the ASV places it in parentheses.
-The NIV omits it, numbering the preceding verse as 20 and the verse to follow as 22.
-However, the manuscripts do contain the parallel verse found in Mark 9:29. However, the word
“fasting” is not included in all of them. For that reason, the NASB, ASV and NIV include
“prayer” only.
-This information is not related in an attempt to discredit the translation process nor to cast
any doubt upon the integrity of the scriptures.
-By considering the translation process that the scriptures have undergone (through the hands
of many men) and the fact that remarkable accuracy and integrity have been maintained, one
can only conclude that God’s providential hand has been involved! The scriptures can and
must be trusted and followed!
-Jesus then reminded the apostles about the importance and power of faith.
-The apostles didn’t have an absence of faith. Yet, they were lacking in their faith. They
still had much development ahead. They still had much to learn regarding Jesus, His mission,
how it would be accomplished and the work that lay before them.
-“They believed in Jesus as a powerful prophet, as a king, as one who can do mighty
works; but it is doubtful whether they had any idea of the true faith in him as a Savior of
sinners, and as sent to save men from sin by the atonement on the cross. Their faith seemed
to see no further in his mission than that he would set up an earthly kingdom, and would
have power to sustain that kingdom when once established” (Boles, pg 362).
-Remember that Peter, James and John were not involved with this attempt at casting out the
demon. They had been with Jesus at His transfiguration. These three were probably chosen
by Jesus because of their developing faith up to that point. So, the nine apostles involved in
the attempted casting out of the demon were less developed in their faith.
-“The tragedy is that most disciples, like the nine in the case here, are hindered by seeds
of doubt and unbelief, and perhaps also by the lack of fervent and devoted prayer”
(Coffman, 1968, pg 269).
-I wonder if Peter, James or John could have accomplished this task? Could this have been
directly involved in the timing of Jesus in taking those three aside with Him when He did?
-Jesus was not trying to teach them to literally remove a mountain. They could not operate
beyond the will of God. It is hard to imagine that such an act would be within His will. Clearly,
Jesus was illustrating the fact that they could accomplish great things through faith.
-Any limits in their faith would be self-imposed.