Mark 9:14-29
(A Bible Study Led by Dr.
Larry Reynolds)
August , 2012)
The
following notes are from Bob Utley’s excellent study guide: The Gospel According to Peter: Mark and I & II Peter:
9:14 “When they came back to the
disciples” Jesus had left the rest of the
disciples at the bottom of the mountain. Luke 9:37 says they returned the next
day.
“a large crowd … scribes arguing”
Both of these things characterized Jesus’ ministry and now the disciples were
experiencing a foreshadowing of Jesus’ existential situation and also their
coming ministry. These were recurrent problems, but also opportunities.
9:15 “immediately” We have seen this word used
repeatedly in Mark to move the action along.
“they were amazed” Some
see this as Jesus’ face still glowing related to Exod. 34:29–30, but the
context seems to imply that Jesus’ appearance came at an opportune moment for
ministry and teaching.
9:16 “What are you discussing
with them” Jesus addresses this question to
the crowd. The scribes were not concerned with the young boy, but with the
theological aspect of the disciples’ inability to effect a cure.
9:17 “possessed with a spirit”
The Gospels make a definite distinction between demon possession and physical
illness. In this particular case there seems to be a blurring of this
distinction. The symptoms described by the father and the implication of
several Greek words in the text imply epilepsy, especially a grand mal seizure.
This physical element was aggravated or instigated by demonic possession.
9:18 “stiffens out”
This is a description of a grand mal seizure.
“I told Your disciples to cast it
out, and they could not do it” The disciples were
surprised also. Jesus gave them the power over the demonic in 6:7, 13, but in
this case their attempts failed!
9:19
Jesus uses two rhetorical questions in v. 19 to express His disappointment at
the lack of faith of the disciples, the crowd, and the scribes.
9:20 “when he saw Him,
immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion”
This was demonic possession manifesting itself in epilepsy.
9:21 There
are several accounts in the Gospels of demon possession of children. How and
why this occurred is never stated.
9:22 The
destructive nature of the demonic is clearly seen in the father’s description
of this boy’s life.
“if”
This is a FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE that is assumed to be true from the
author’s perspective or for his literary purposes. This was the father’s affirmation
of faith in Jesus’ ability to heal.
“ ‘take pity on us and help
us’ ” This father had faith in Jesus
even when the disciples failed to deliver his son.
9:23 “ ‘If You can’ ” This
is a play on the man’s statement of v. 22. It is another FIRST CLASS
CONDITIONAL SENTENCE. This man affirmed Jesus’ ability; now Jesus affirms his.
“ ‘All things are possible
to him who believes’ ” This is not a blank check for
humanity, even believing humanity, to manipulate God, but a promise that God
will do His will through believing faith. There are two conditions: (1) God’s
will and (2) believing faith!
9:24 “ ‘I do believe, help
my unbelief’ ” This is a PRESENT ACTIVE
IMPERATIVE. Remember it is the object of faith, not the quantity, that is
crucial (cf. Matt. 17:20; Luke 17:6). Notice that Jesus worked with this man’s
doubts, as He will with ours.
This
father’s words admit his need and beseeches Jesus’ help to further his faith.
This is a prayer we could all pray!
9:25 “a crowd was rapidly
gathering” This could be the same crowd as
vv. 14–15 or a large number of new arrivals.
“ ‘You deaf and mute
spirit’ ” Apparently this was just another
aspect of this boy’s physical problems (cf. v. 17) related to the demonic
possession.
“ ‘come out of him and do not
enter him again’ ” This is an AORIST ACTIVE
IMPERATIVE and an AORIST ACTIVE SUBJUNCTIVE that meant “get out and do not ever
start to come back.”
9:26 The
physical manifestations accompanying the departure of the demonic appear to
have been common in NT exorcisms.
“the boy became so much like a
corpse” This is another symptom of a
grand mal seizure.
9:27 “Jesus took him by the hand
and raised him” This procedure showed Jesus’
concern and compassion (cf. 1:31; 5:41). He was not afraid to touch the sick
and possessed!
9:28 “ ‘Why could we not
drive it out’ ” They were surprised! Earlier
they had been able to cast out demons; why not now? Matthew 17:20 says it was
because of the smallness of their faith.
9:29
“This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer”
Many other Greek manuscripts add “and fasting.”[1]
In
making application of this event to our lives, I want to focus on three
phrases:
·
"...when
they came back..."
(v.14)
·
"...if
you can do anything..."
(v.22)
·
"I
do believe; help my unbelief..." (v.24)
From
the phrase "...when they came back..." in verse 14 can learn
something about the arena where Christianity is lived out
1. The "they" in that phrase is reference to
Jesus and Peter, James, and John...points back to experience at which we looked
last week...had been up on a high mountain with Jesus ...had seen Jesus
transformed before their very eyes in radiant splendor...observed Him speaking
with Moses and Elijah... heard the very voice of God proclaim, "This
is my beloved Son..."...if there ever was a mountain top
spiritual, they had it...
2. Walking down from the mountain the next day they were bubbling
with enthusiasm...on way down had great theological conversation with Jesus
about the resurrection and relationship between Elijah and the Messiah...didn't
understand much of what Jesus said, but no doubt they were pumped up...feeling
pretty spiritual...excited be followers of Jesus...
3. Then, suddenly they were off the mountain and back in the
valley...a large crowd swirled around them...found the other disciples being
taunted by group of religious fanatics... confronted by distraught father whose
son was demon possessed...
4. How quickly the excitement of the mountaintop experience must have
waned...how quickly the feelings of ecstasy were replaced by the reality of
dealing with real problems in a real world...
5. Important lesson in that for us about nature of Christian life...
while we need the occasional mountaintop experience, the real Christian life is
lived in the flesh and blood world of people and pressures and problems...think
it is significant Jesus did not allow Peter, James, and John to linger on the
mountaintop ...ushered them down from the mountain to the reality of life
below...
6. From earliest days of church has been element among Christians who
have misunderstood essential nature of Christian life...have secluded
themselves from world, either literally in monasteries, or symbolically by
cloaking themselves in words or rituals or music world can't understand...
eventually lose touch with very world to which should be ministering...
7. While it is important for Christians to spend time alone with God,
as one writer put it, "The solitude is not meant to make us
solitary. It is meant to make us better
able to meet and cope with the demands of everyday life." And that's where Christian life must
be lived...in midst of the real world of everyday life....
From the phrase "...if
you can..." in v.22 can learn something about the nature of faith.
1. In the NASB's translation of this passage will not find the
English word faith...however, the concept of faith permeates this story... in
the Greek language the same word can be translated faith or belief and faithing
or believing....that word is used numerous times in this passage--
--v.19 Jesus calls the people an "unbelieving"
or unfaithing or faithless generation...
--v.23 Jesus told the father that
"All things are possible to him who believes" or has
faith...
--v.24 the father said to Jesus, "I
do believe" or have faith...
2. The father first approached Jesus in spirit of faithlessness as
evidenced by the statement "...if you can..." Jesus
rebuked him for that attitude...And one thing can learn from this event is
don't have to have lot of faith to get
something done....obviously father's faith was weak, faltering, less than
perfect...but Jesus responded to it anyway...
3. Charles Spurgeon, the great English preacher, told story about
woman who was well known for faith...another woman travelled many miles to meet
her and learn the secret of her life...when arrived at her home asked, "Are
you the woman with the great faith?"...and the woman replied, "No,
I am not. I am the woman with a little
faith in the great God."
4. It's not really the size of our
faith that matters, it is the object of our faith...our faith -belief, trust,
confidence, hope, assurance- must be in Jesus...
From the phrase "I do
believe; help my unbelief..." in v.24 can learn something about
prayer.
1. In Bible are recorded some wonderful prayers...Psalms are filled
with the eloquent prayers of David...Jesus taught disciples to pray using
prayer we call the Lord's Prayer or Model Prayer...in John 17 there is the
great intercessory prayer of Jesus for His followers...in book of Acts read
many prayers of early church...throughout Paul's letters are wonderful prayers
for His readers...
2. But of all the prayers in the Bible, this is one I identify with
the most..."I do believe; help my unbelief."...it is so
honest, so transparent, and so typical of where I am most of the time ...always
struggling between belief and unbelief...between faith and doubt...
3. And it's reminder that prayer doesn't have be eloquent or long or
profound for God to respond to it...just has to be heartfelt...There's a
beautiful story in the book And the Angels Were Silent by Max Lucado:
…a
bishop was traveling by ship to visit a church across the ocean. While en route, the ship stopped at an island
for a day. He went for a walk on a
beach. He came across three fishermen
mending their nets.
Curious
about their trade, he asked them some questions. Curious about his ecclesiastical robes, they
asked him some questions. When they
found out he was a Christian leader, they got excited, “We Christians!” they
said, proudly pointing to one another.
The
bishop was impressed but cautious. Did
they know the Lord’s Prayer? They never
heard of it.
“What
do you say when you pray?”
“We
pray, ‘We are three, you are three, have mercy on us.’”
The
bishop was appalled at the primitive nature of the prayer. “That will not do.” So he spent the day teaching them the Lord’s
Prayer. The fisherman were poor but
willing learners. And before the bishop
sailed away the next day, they could recite the prayer with no mistakes.
The
bishop was proud.
On
the return trip the bishop’s ship drew new the island again. When the island came into view, the bishop
came to the deck and recalled with pleasure the men he had taught and resolved
to go see them again. As he was
thinking, a light appeared on the horizon near the island. It seemed to be getting nearer. As the bishop gazed in wonder, he realized
the three fishermen were walking toward him on the water. Soon all the passengers and crew were on the
deck to see the sight.
When
they were within speaking distance, the fishermen cried out, “Bishop, we come
hurry to meet you.”
“What
is it you want?” asked the stunned bishop.
“We
are so sorry. We forget the lovely
prayer. We say, ‘Our Father, who art in
heaven, hallowed by your name…’ and then we forget. Please tell us prayer again.
The
bishop was humbled. “Go back to your
homes, my friends, and when you pray say, “We are three, you are three, have
mercy on us.’”
CONCLUSION
1. In the Vatican Art Gallery hangs the last painting of the famous
artist Raphael...it is entitled The Transfiguration...perhaps you've
seen a print of it...in top part of the painting is the transfigured form of
Jesus with Moses on the left and Elijah on the right...in middle of painting
are Peter, James, and John shielding their eyes from the brilliance of Jesus'
shining appearance...at the bottom of the painting is the demon possessed boy
described in passage read today...his mouth is distorted and face twisted with
wild ravings... next to the boy is the desperate father...surrounding them are
the rest of the disciples, some of whom are pointing upward to the glowing
figure of Christ, the boy's only hope...
2. Painting captures well the meaning of this passage...only as we
turn to Christ in faith and prayer are we able to meet the challenges of life
in the real world...
[1]
Utley, R. J. D. (2000). Vol. Volume 2:
The Gospel According to Peter: Mark and I
& II Peter. Study Guide Commentary Series (105). Marshall, Texas: Bible
Lessons International.
