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The Healing of a Boy Possessed By an Unclean Spirit

Text: Mark 9:14-30, Matthew 17:14-21, Luke 9:37-42
20 July 2014

THE HEALING OF A BOY POSSESSED BY AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT

 

COMING DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN

1. Jesus had come down from the mountain with His 3 disciples

2. He saw a multitude thronging His 9 disciples

3. He also noticed the scribes disputing with the disciples            Mark 9:14

SEEING JESUS

1. The multitude left the 9 disciples

2. They turned and ran to Jesus instead

3. Jesus asked the scribes what they were discussing (disputing) with His disciples

THE FATHER OF THE DEMON-POSSESSED BOY

1. He addresses Jesus as “Teacher”            Mark 9:17

2. He explains

a) He had brought his son to His disciples
b) His son was a deaf-mute
c) The demon would attempt to harm the boy
i) Seizing him
ii) Causing him to foam at the mouth
iii) Gnashing his teeth
iv) Making him rigid
d) He brought his son to the disciples
e) But they could not cast out the demon

THE RESPONSE OF JESUS

1. He did not blame His disciples

2. The generation was characterised by a lack of faith            Mark 9:19

3. It grieved the Lord that though He had spent so much time there was still not that vibrant faith

4. How little time there was to teach them about what it means to have great faith            Mark 9:19

5. He asked that the boy be brought to Him

JESUS SPEAKS WITH THE FATHER

1. He speaks to the father with compassion

2. How long had the boy suffered?

3. The father’s plaintive cry

a) From childhood he had been afflicted
b) Sometimes the boy is thrown into the fire
c) At other times into the water
d) He pleads with Jesus

“If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”            Mark 9:22

e) The Greek text does not suggest total doubt!
f) It suggests that he believed that Jesus could help if He had compassion enough

4. Jesus asked the father if he had faith to believe            Mark 9:23

5. The father cries out

a) I believe
b) Help my unbelief            Mark 9:24

JESUS EXPELS THE DEMON

1. He commands the demon to come out of the boy            Mark 9:25

2. The demon has no choice but to obey            Mark 9:26

THE DISCIPLES ASKED WHY THEY COULD NOT CAST OUT THE DEMON

1. They could not figure it out

2. They thought they could

A CANDID ANSWER

1. Because of their unbelief            Matthew 17:20

2. Because their faith was smaller than they imagined            Matthew 17:20

3. Because some demons are powerful and they will resist them            Matthew 17:21

4. Because they did not know how to fast and pray effectively            Matthew 17:21

JESUS MOVES TO ANOTHER REGION FOR MINISTRY

He does not want people to feature this ministry of casting out demons            Mark 9:30

POEMS BASED ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK – Volume 2 – Charles Tan

#5 ELIJAH

Few prophets captured the imagination of Israel as Elijah did in his day,
God raised him up to confront King Ahab for his wicked tyrannical ways.
He wielded the mighty power of God till the wicked king feared him,
Elijah was the special servant of God in a land that was spiritually dim.

Malachi prophesied that one day Elijah would come again before the day of the Lord,
His ministry would be so effective he would help broken families to be in one accord.
Israel waited for centuries for a literal Elijah to come as in the days of old,
The spirit of Elijah had come upon John the Baptiser, making him strong and bold.

John’s ministry ended in suffering and tragedy when he was executed,
His suffering and pain was not altogether unpredictable or unexpected.
Wickedness will always raise its ugly head against the cause of the righteous,
Jesus predicted that He too would suffer terribly in the hands of the unscrupulous.

Israel needed to know that the forerunner had done his part in preparing the way,
The Messiah had come and had invited many to enter the Kingdom while they may.
If they could understand and accept that Elijah had indeed heralded the coming of the Messiah,
They would be able to recognize that Jesus had come to fulfil Israel’s deepest Desire.

Inspiration: Mark 9:12-13, 1 Kings 17-19, Malachi 4:4-6