Mark 9:20-23 “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 him who believes."
Everything changes when Jesus comes. In Mark 9:20-23 from the moment that Jesus comes into close proximity with this demonized child there is an immediate reaction from the demonic spirit. Once again we are given the opportunity to gain more insight into the nature of demonic oppression and deliverance ministry as Jesus responds to the needs of this oppressed child.
The demons oppressing this little one have such complete control over his physical body that he is thrown to the ground in convulsions, where he lays rolling on the ground and foaming at the mouth. Jesus’ reaction to these symptoms is educational for us. He does not panic at such a display, nor withdraw from it. Instead Jesus acts very much like a physician and begins to diagnose the boy’s condition. He asks the father “How long has he been like this?” We can learn from this the importance at times of obtaining circumstantial information in how we conduct personal ministry with people. Jesus did not rely solely on His ability to discern but rather actively engages in searching out facts related to the boy’s condition.
As Jesus investigates more thoroughly the conditions He discovers the gravity of the situation. This father is desperate. The demonic powers are so strong in the grip they have upon the child that they have tried to kill him on numerous occasions. In fact verse 22 emphasizes the word “often” in regard to the demonic efforts to kill this child. Imagine a father whose chronic struggle is to keep his precious child safe from the spirits that are seeking to take its life. Within this context of struggle and chronic tension the father’s reaction to Jesus is understandable. He has sought help in numerous directions and it is now a struggle to believe that anyone will ever be able to help him, particularly in the context of the failure of His disciples to help the boy.
The next stage of Jesus’ deliverance ministry in this particular situation is interesting in that Jesus does not address the boy’s needs first. He addresses the father’s needs first. Right there in the midst of everyone Jesus identifies the need for faith. He speaks forth a clear but conditional ray of hope into this situation. Jesus speaks definitively into the father’s heart by saying “everything is possible…” What a powerful introduction to the ministry of Jesus. This was a precious gift given to this man to help boast him over the wall of his fear and pain. Jesus makes clear the fact that “all things” are possible. But He places this hop in a clear context. His promise is sure, but it is also conditional. Jesus turns to the man and says “everything is possible for him who believes.” There is no escaping the need for faith that Jesus clearly identifies here. In response to the uncertainty of this hurting father, Jesus brings certainty of faith. His compassion redirects this father’s focus from the impossible to the possible. Let your focus be re-directed by the Lord’s compassion as well and may you clearly see that with God there are no dead ends. With God there are no mountains to high to climb. With God truly all things are possible “for him who believes.”
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