One morning a crowd of people gathered at the foot of a high mountain. Jesus. Along with Peter, James and John. Had climbed the mountain the night before. For jesus had something special for them to experience. He had left the other nine disciples behind.
Now the night had gone. The nine. Disciples led a crowd of people to the foot of the mountain. The crowd came because of one special boy in their group. He was special because he was his father's only son. Let us move in a little closer and in imagination hear what theyvare saying.
The father says to the nine disciples. Your master christ has sent you to do his work. We have heard that he has given you power to cast out evil spirits. This child. My only child has a demon spirit. The spirit throws him into the fire. Look at the scars on him where he has been burned. We have had to pull him out of water when the demons have thrown him in to kill him.
O please, can't you help him. He is out only child. The disciples all nod their heads. They believe they can help him. Some time before. Jesus has given them power to deliver people from evil spirits. He has sent them out to do it. And they have done it. Yes. We can help him. They say.
They command the spirits to leave. But the spirits don't go. Again and again they try. But the boy acts just the same. See. Laugh the people in scorn. You can't do it. You can't do it. You say christ gave you his power. You say you have cast out demons before. But it is just a trick. You are deceivers.
The people cannot see Satan. But Satan is there with his evil angels. They do not want anyone to believe in the power of jesus. They put terrible unbelieving thoughts into the minds of the people. Just then. Jesus and the three other disciples come down the mountainside. They see all the people there. They hear them shouting at the nine disciples.
In Mark 9:14-27 the bible tells us the story. 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. Jesus asked. As he saw the people arguing with the disciples. The disciples faces looked troubled. The father left the boy with his friends and pushed through the crowd.
Kneeling down at jesus' feet he said. 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.
The father waited. Looking anxiously at jesus. His heart beat fast. Could jesus help him. Surely he could. Hadn't he healed many others. Yet. Maybe. Maybe he couldn't. Yes. Surely he could. Quickly jesus looked around at the people. He saw the ones who had laughed at the disciples. They were not laughing now.
They were not talking. They were silent. What will jesus do. They wondered. Yet jesus could see that these people did not believe in his power. They wanted to show that jesus was a deceiver. Then jesus looked at the faces of his own disciples. They had seen him heal people who had leprosy.
They had seen him make a storm at sea go away. They had seen him walk on water. They had seen him feed five thousand men. Besides women and children with five loaves of bread and two small fish. They had seen him heal all kinds of diseases and cast out demons. Even though the disciples had seen all this. They still questioned whether God could heal this boy. They weren't really sure about the power of jesus.
O you unbelieving generation. Jesus said. How long shall i stay with you. How long shall i put up with you. Bring the boy to me. The people moved back as several men brought the boy through the crowd. Jesus saw him coming and looked at him with deep, tender love in his eyes.
He knew how helpless the boy was. He knew what the boy could become if the spirits were sent away. It made him glad too. To know that this boy could become a happy. Strong, useful man who would think pure thoughts and do kind deeds and love God with all his heart.
Satan stood ready to defeat jesus' plan. He would do all he could to hold the boy in his own power. He would try to prove that he. Satan was stronger than God. So when jesus looked at the boy. The spirit saw jesus. He threw the boy down to the ground in a convulsive struggle. The boy rolled around. Foaming at the mouth.
Satan and his angels were there to battle with angels of light whom God would use to deliver the boy. But no one could see them. Jesus waited for a moment so that the crowds could really see that this boy needed help. He asked. How long has he been like this. From childhood. The father answered as everyone looked on.
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 him who believes. He looked into the father's troubled eyes. 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 evil spirit. You deaf and dumb 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 dead person that many said. He is dead.
But jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet. And he stood up. He was healed from that moment. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. The boy stood up and smiled at his father. His father threw his arms around him. It was as if he had a new son to take home with him.
As the two walked along the path to their house they doubtless exclaimed. Praise God. Praise God. He has power over the strongest spirits. And as people walked along and watched. They probably shook their heads in wonder and surprise. Some surely said. Praise God. While others still did not believe.
Jesus and his disciples walked to their house. They went in and sat down. The disciples walked were wondering how jesus had sent the evil spirit away when they could not. As they sat there thinking about it. They looked into their master's face. He was always patient and kind with them. Even when they failed.
Then one asked the question they were all thinking. Why couldn't we drive it out. Quietly jesus answered. Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed. You can say to this mountain. Move from here to there and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you. This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting. The disciples had failed because of their lack of faith. They should have been more careful to go quietly away and ask God to to give them faith in him. They should have asked for faith to believe in jesus and for the desire to really care about people who are in trouble.
But they had not cared enough. They had not believed enough. The boy's father cared. And he believed a little. He asked jesus to help him believe more. Jesus heard that prayer and the boy was healed. Do you know of someone who is struggling with evil spirits.
Or someone who has a bad habit and tries very hard to break it. To each person in the whole wide world. In africa. In your city or your village. Jesus stretches out his hands and says.
Cone to me all you who are weary and burdened
And i will give you rest
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me
For i am gentle and humble in heart
And you will find rest for your souls
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light
Matthew 11:28-30
This story is based on Mathew 17:1,9,14-21; Mark 9:2,9,14-29; Luke 9:28, 37-42
You might want to read it from your bible. Mathew saw it happen
