Failures in Christian Life
(Mark 9:28-29, Luke 9:28-56, Mt.17:1-21)
“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.” (Mark 9:28)
The context:
Mark has a more complete account of this story than either Matthew or Luke. This, the last exorcism story in Mark's Gospel, occurs when Jesus, Peter, James, and John rejoin the other disciples after the experience of the Transfiguration.
Jesus and three disciples- Peter, John and James-were at the mount of Transfiguration. The Transfiguration took place on Mount Hermon.
(The high mountain is not identified. The traditional site is Mount Tabor, a loaf-shaped mountain in the middle of the Plain of Jezreel. But Tabor is not a "high mountain" (1,843 feet above sea level) and so is an unlikely site.
Mount Hermon, which is over 9,000 feet high, is a more probable site. It is located near Caesarea Philippi.)
1. Mount of Transfiguration vs. the Valley of Disfiguration
Peter, John & James wanted to stay back at the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter suggested that they will make three shelters: one for Jesus, one for Moses and the other for Elijah. It seems an unselfish suggestion. Probably he might have thought that they could stay with Jesus. This was an attempt to avoid the challenges and dangers of the valley of disfiguration. It is a natural tendency.
2. People are looking at us to see and experience the blessings of Jesus.
The other nine disciples were at the foot of the mountain. In Jesus' absence the man had brought his possessed son to the disciples for healing. Doubtless the disciples had fully expected to be able to exorcise the demon. Had that not been a part of their commission (cf.3:15), and had they not already been successful at it (cf.6:13)? But they failed miserably.
3. Our failures in Christian life can make several non-Christians to disbelieve Jesus and His claims.
The failure of the disciples caused the father to doubt Jesus power to heal his son.
It was followed by an argument and probably ridicule for the disciples. The disciples were engaged in a debate with the teachers of the law while a large crowd looked on.
Then Jesus and the three disciples came down from the mountain. They saw them debating on something. Jesus' inquiry as to what the other disciples and the crowd were arguing about (v.16) brought a reply from a man who had brought his son for healing (v.17). The description the father gives of his son's illness is graphic:
• He is possessed by a spirit,
• And this has caused a speech loss.
• He also has seizures accompanied by foaming at the mouth, grinding of the teeth,
• And bodily rigidity (v.18).
These symptoms suggest epilepsy one of a group of diseases that have had particular attention because of their mysterious nature.
The boy had been sick since childhood and had experienced numerous attacks in which the demon had attempted to kill him by convulsing him and throwing him into fire and water (v. 22). Mark uses the plural form of water (hydata), which in this context may mean pools or streams.
Pathetically the father asked Jesus for help. When he left home to bring his son to Jesus' disciples, he apparently believed the boy would be healed.
Now he is not sure and says, "If you can do anything."
4. Jesus immediately fixed on the father's "if" clause.
a. The question was not whether Jesus had the power to heal the boy but whether the father had faith to believe Jesus could- "Everything is possible for him who believes."
b. Or perhaps the reference is to the failure of the disciples. In that case the statement is not about belief as a condition necessary for receiving healing; it is about belief as an active force in the accomplishment of healing. This would help explain Jesus' rebuke of his disciples in v. 19.
However, in view of Mark's emphasis in his Gospel of the importance of faith for healing, the first interpretation is to be preferred. Jesus' statement, which is really a promise, elicited faith from the father. "I do believe," he exclaimed; but he recognized that his faith was far from perfect (v. 24).
c. The father’s faith was still mixed with unbelief.
So in a beautiful display of honesty, he asked Jesus to help him overcome his unbelief.
Calvin comments: "He declares that he believes and yet acknowledges himself to have unbelief. These two statements may appear to contradict each other but there is none of us that do not experience both of them in himself."
The demon's exorcism is accompanied by cries and convulsions (v. 26). The effect on the boy was so severe that he seemed to the crowd to be dead. Completely exhausted and looking like a corpse, the boy responded to the touch of Jesus.
Jesus and disciples continued their journey and reached a house. On the way, the failure and the shame made the nine gloomy. They must have been silent on the way. Probably, Peter, John and James were the only ones responding to Jesus talk.
All the nine were brooding over a question about their failure. Why were the nine disciples powerless to act in behalf of this boy (v. 28)?
The disciples failed; why did they fail?
5. Were they trying to use the opportunity without proper authority?
i. They had been given authority over evil spirits.
They were given the authority to cast the demons, heal the sick and to preach the Word.
Matthew 10:1, “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
Luke 9:1 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases.”
Mark 3:14-15 “He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.
Mk.6:7 “Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
ii. They had successfully cast out many demons before this incident.
Mk.6:13. “They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”
But why their failure now?
They were ashamed to discuss about it in public. So in private the disciples went to Jesus and asked him why they had failed. The question expressed their deep concern.
6. Three Basic Postulates about Human Life.
Before we enter into finding the answer for the question, let me remind you about the Three Basic Postulates about Human Life.
i. Good and evil are intertwined in our life.
Illustration: Charles Sobharaj, the international criminal who was once jailed in Tihar jail.
ii. Our Goodness can become badness.
Eg. The parable of the Pharisee and Tax collector
iii. There is not much distance from obedience to disobedience, from purity to impurity and from faithfulness to unfaithfulness.
Illustration. Home servant in Dubai who killed all the family members
1 Cor.10:12. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
The views of man will be changing, but God is an unchanging God.
Eg. In Jeremiah 2:13, Jeremiah says about God: “You are the fountain of living water”. Or “You are the spring of living water.”
But in Jeremiah 15:18 he says “You are like a deceitful brook and waters that fail.”
7. What was the reason for failure?
The Bible gives four reasons for their failure.
i. They were thinking about who is the greatest among them.
They had serious discussions or probably heated arguments about who is the greatest among themselves.
Mark 9:33-34, They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Luke 9:46 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”
ii. Groupism.
A person who is not one among the Twelve was casting out demons. They hated the miracle performed because he did not belong to their group.
Mark 9:38, ““Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
Luke 9;49-50 “Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”
iii. Revengeful attitude.
They were revengeful towards Samaritans for not accepting them.
Luke 9:52-56 “And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.”
Illustration: Conversation of two Yuvajana Sakhyam members about the coming election.
iv. Lack of prayer.
Here in Mark 9:29 gives us the answer. Jesus answered, “This kind can come out only by prayer”
Apparently they had taken for granted the power given them or had come to believe that it was inherent in themselves. So they no longer depended prayerfully on God for it, and their failure showed their lack of prayer.
Even at Gethsemane, the disciples were sleeping while Jesus was praying ardently.
Once they were powerful; they were miracle performers, but now failed.
We are also just like them. Failures can happen to any one of us at any time. Many of us have failed in several areas of our life; some in family life, some in rearing of children, some in business, some in their professional career, some in neighborhood relationships. The list can go on.
8. What shall we do on the face of failures?
Let us look to a man who failed miserably, but later succeeded in his life. Let us see how he faced his failure? How did he transform his life into a victory, a celebration? We have a lot to learn from him.
Let us look to a passage in Luke 5:1-11
Here we see an experience of Peter.
At the Shore of Gennesareth Lake Jesus saw Peter washing his fishing net. He was getting ready to take rest after a night’s long toil for almost 12 hours. He was tired in his body, and mind as well. His fishing attempts were fruitless all through that night. He was saddened in his heart to present himself empty handed before his waiting wife and children.
At this desperate moment Jesus was asking him to do two simple things for Him.
a. He asked for his smelly fishing boat for his use.
Without any hesitation he agreed to do that. Jesus used his smelling fishing boat as a platform for his speech. So many people were able to see Jesus standing on this fishing boat and speaking about the kingdom of God.
Can you give your little possession for the use of Christ? If so, so many would se Jesus and hear his teachings.
b. Jesus asked for a simple service from Peter.
Peter used his spare time, the time he set apart for rest, for a simple service to Jesus. Many could see Jesus and hear his teachings because of this simple service of Peter.
Are we willing to do a simple service for Jesus just like Peter? If so, so many would se Jesus and hear his teachings.
Peter gave the boat for Jesus’ use. He took again the rows and used it for Jesus. He spent his leisure moments for the service of Jesus. Though he was rowing the boat all the time, he was gloomy. He must have been thinking about how to face his starving wife and children? How to make both ends meet? He must have been brooding over these important questions in his mind. It is possible that he did not have listen any of the words Jesus spoke that day. Long sighs must have been coming out of him intermittently. It is also possible that Jesus must have noticed it. The response of Jesus after his preaching proved it.
c. Jesus sees every sigh of your heart.
Oh, dear ones, how great it is to know that Jesus sees all our heart burnings, all our depressive thoughts, all our disappointments, even when we do not share it with him. Take courage, Jesus have an answer for it.
He said, push of the boat further to the deep sea and let down the nets for a catch.
Peter’s reply was genuine. He shared the burden that was heavy in his mind for so long. “Lord, we toiled for the whole last night, but caught nothing.” That was a plain confession, a straight answer.
But if I was in his place, I must have said, “Lord, which place you are suggesting.
Do you know I have cast my nets all over the Galilean sea last night? When I could not catch any fish from one spot, I moved to another, and another. I combed the entire see during the last 12 hours in search of fish. I tried everywhere. Now you are asking me to move to the deep sea and cast my net. What are you talking about? It’s silly, it’s strange.”
Again I would say, Lord, do you know what time it is and what time is best for catching the fish?
I toiled all the night which is the best favorable time for fishing. Now it is morning. Can’t you see the bright sun light from the scorching sun? This time is totally unfavorable for fishing. And how do you know that it is unfavorable time since you are not a fisherman and probably you never had a chance to see us fishing?
I would say again, Lord, do you have any experience in fishing?
I started fishing from my early days. I spent my whole life in fishing. This is the only profession I know. You are a total stranger having no experience in fishing. How dare you advise me to try fishing at this odd time? What nonsense you are talking?
But that poor, simple Peter just said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5)
When he did that, he got a big catch.
“When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” (Luke 5:6-7)
Peter was afraid. So were Andrew, John and James. Why?
Is it because of the size of the fish or the number fish in one catch? No. It was because of the thought who was Jesus? He is the one who is making the impossible -possible, the unfavorable -favorable, and the inexperienced -experts.
When referring to the dark annals of history and the rising of great leaders during those dark ages Arnold Toynbee said: “Stars shine brightest in the dark nights” It is in the pitch darkness that we see the beauty of the stars. It is in the midst of depression that we see the miraculous hands of God working for us.
Dr. John Taylor said; “It is in the real absence that we meet the real presence.”
Illustration: The tragedy that happened in the life of the great inventor Thomas Alwa Edison at the age of 67 years. He was a great inventor who had 1093 patents in his name from USA. Several other patents were in his name from United Kingdom, France, and Germany. All together, more than 1500 patents in his name.
At the age of 67, the laboratory adjacent to his house caught fire. All the prototype equipments and the files of his research were there in the lab. He came out and frantically tried to put off the fire and to save as many documents and equipments as possible. But the fire spread and he became helpless. He called out to his 5th son and said like this: “Charles call your Mom, she can never see such a sight in all her life.” Charles came out with his mother Mina and holding their hands together they watched the laboratory burning down completely. He went home and slept peacefully that night?
Next day morning he came out. He saw his labor for 67 years lying there as a heap of ashes. He came closely to the heap of ashes, took a handful of it and lifted it up to the heavens and said: “Lord all my mistakes for the past 67 years have been burned out. You are giving me a second chance, a second beginning, thank you Lord.”
Conclusion
9. So what shall we do at the face of failure?
Thomas Alwa Edison teaches us that our failures in life are occasions for new beginnings.
“Make your failure an occasion for another venture”
Everest is the highest mountain. Many people tried to conquer it, but failed. But Tensing and Hilary said, “O Everest, thou have conquered many. But we will conquer thee.” And they did it.
As Christians, let us add three more words into it. “O Everest, thou have conquered many. But we will conquer thee, in His grace.”
We need to submit totally into God’s hands. Let us also say as Peter: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5). Let us take this New Year as a new beginning. God is giving us a second chance. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past. Let us venture into this New Year in His grace.
