When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
“What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 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.”
“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.”
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.
Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. “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.”
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
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.”
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
We are in a section of Mark’s Gospel which is very much about following Jesus.
The text through chapter 8 is raising this question:
- Have you witnessed enough about Jesus that even though you have more questions, you will follow him?
- Peter’s answer in 8:29 is an emphatic “YES!”
Following Jesus is not something you do after all your questions have been answered to your satisfaction; it is instead a question of faith.
Which is why most people love the father’s reaction in this story.
The scene, of course, is troubling. We feel for the young man tortured from childhood. We ache for the father and understand his pleading. We’ve known the frustration of unanswered prayer.
Mark is not connecting disconnected stories. He is showing us what the road looks like when you follow Jesus.
In one moment, you are on the mountaintop with him. You’re swept up in his glory and enjoying the fellowship. It is so magnificent you barely know anyone else is around.
Then, in just a moment, you go from being with Jesus alone, to being engulfed in a crowd. The scene moves from clarity and celebration to chaos and confusion.
Jesus’ initial response sounds exasperation. Sometimes a teacher uses contrast and emotion to make a point to students. I think that is, at least, part of what Jesus is doing here.
His tone leads to the disciples asking why they were unsuccessful - that is a great response. Why isn't this working? When you compare this to the number of times they don’t ask him questions or for help, this is progress.
If your faith journey ever taken this sort of dramatic turn, Mark reminds us that we have a fellow traveler - the father who runs to Jesus. The boy's father cries out: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Like him, we have prayed. And, like him, we have wondered about God's response.
And then, before more people gather, Jesus rebukes the impure spirit:
“You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
The disciples asked Jesus in private, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” Some manuscripts add "and fasting."
Jesus' answer essentially is to pray. Someone once said that the first thing we pray for when we are asked to pray for the sick, is "Lord, how do you want me to pray?"
By prayer, Jesus means to stay connected to Him. Prayer is more than an exercise we do in order to be stronger. Prayer will make us stronger, but there is so much more.
If we view prayer as something we do so we are more effective, then we miss the point. Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus and therefore to the Father.
We can do nothing apart from Jesus.
Jesus is not looking for us to say our prayers and then go take on the world without Him. No, he wants us to always be connected to Him. He tells us he will never forsake us.
This incident in Mark's Gospel reminds us of Jesus’ power, and it shows us real-life situation where we, as his followers, face the daily challenges of our world, and our need to stay connected to him.
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