Mark 9:20-23 - June 25, 2010

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.”

Mark 9:16 - June 21, 2010

Mark 9:16 "What are you arguing with them about?" he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 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." 19 "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

Jesus had a tremendous talent for stepping into the midst of controversy and crisis. Here He is rejoining the majority of His disciples after having undergone the experience of being transfigured on the mountain top with His three seemingly lead disciples. However, this situation demonstrates the consistency of focus that was present in the life of Christ. He is not reveling in the moment past, nor seeking to demonstrate to the rest of the crowd the power and majesty of who He is. It is clear by Jesus’ reaction to His own glorification in front of the three that this was not an experience that took Jesus by surprise as if the Father was showing Him something He didn’t already know. This experience was clearly for the sake of His disciples. Ph’p. 2:5-10 makes it very clear that Jesus knew who He was and yet willingly restrained Himself to the limitations of mankind except by divine directive. And it is with the composure of one who has not been greatly impacted by the revelation of their own Son-ship that Jesus greets the crowd and immediately gets busy focusing on the current conflict at hand.

In this first portion of the story of this miracle of deliverance there is much that we can learn. The first lesson is in regard to the nature and impact of the demonic. The description of the manifestations of this boys demonic oppression provide great insight into what kinds of impact a demon can have on the human body and mind. The chronic condition of this boy is simply that he is robbed of speech. And yet when the demon inhibiting him is aggravated the boy is gripped with such force that he may be thrown to the ground, become rigid, foam at the mouth and gnash his teeth. From these symptoms it is clear that a person truly bound by demonic interference may demonstrate a wide range of physical symptoms even though the problem is clearly spiritual.

The second lesson regarding deliverance ministry is found in fact that the disciples were not able to cast this spirit out. By Jesus’ reaction there is no indication that they shouldn’t be able to cast this spirit out. He makes it very clear from His response that He is having to put up with less than ideal conditions in the hearts of His audience and that this is perplexing to Him. There is no progressive diagnosis. There is no further inquiry, but rather an immediate response of expectancy that He will be able to cast out this demon. He then says something thought provoking. His response to this situation is “how long will I stay with you…?” This response implies His goal in a rather subtle way. Under the surface lies the statement, “I am preparing you for ministry after I am gone and this is a lesson you should have learned by now!!!!” And so Jesus calls for the boy to be brought to Him and it is back to the work of training His team to carry on the ministry of the Kingdom after His departure to heaven! Now that is a focused life!