PRAYER AND SERVICE.
Mark 9:14-29.
We might like to enjoy our mountain-top experiences without the trouble of coming back down to the more mundane realities of everyday life, but we may not. It is important for us to maintain a life of prayer, but also of service. There is work to be done.
Peter, James, and John had just witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus. His raiment had shone, ‘as white as snow, so that no fuller on earth can white them.’ They had seen Elijah and Moses in conversation with Jesus. A cloud overshadowed the whole scene, and they had heard a voice out of the cloud saying of Jesus, ‘This is my beloved Son: hear Him.’ Then they were alone again with Jesus (Mark 9:2-8).
This is an experience that the three disciples would no doubt treasure for the rest of their lives. James was the first of the Apostles to die, but both Peter and John spoke of it in later life (John 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16-18).
Meanwhile, in the valley, the other disciples were trying to cure a poor young man who was troubled by a demon. Now, they may well have felt that they could conduct such a healing without Jesus. After all, when He had sent them out ‘two by two’ He had given them authority over the unclean spirits, ‘and they cast out many devils’ (cf. Mark 6:7; Mark 6:13).
What was so different now? Well, they were evidently trying this without having prayed, and in their own strength. One thing we learn from this incident is just how dependent we are upon the Lord (cf. John 15:5).
There was quite a commotion around them when Jesus came to His disciples. When the crowd saw Jesus, they were all “greatly amazed, and running to Him saluted Him” (Mark 9:14-15). Beyond amazement, perhaps, maybe there was something of the glow of the transfiguration still about Him?
Jesus asked the scribes what was going on, and out of the crowd a father spoke up. It was he who had brought his son who had a dumb spirit, looking for Jesus. He described some of the symptoms, and complained that Jesus’ disciples could not cast out the spirit (Mark 9:16-18).
“O faithless generation,” scolded Jesus. “Bring him to Me.” The spirit recognised Jesus, and threw the young man into convulsions. Jesus asked how long this had been going on, and the father replied, “From childhood” (Mark 9:19-21).
There was certainly a spiritual battle going on in this young man’s life, as his father also expounded. “IF you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us,” pleaded the father. “If YOU can believe,” replied Jesus (Mark 9:22-23).
Now Jesus DOES have compassion, as we well know. Yet, in a crisis, we might well discover what a mixture of faith and unbelief can dwell together in the same heart. I have faith to believe, professed the man: Help me also to grow in faith believing (Mark 9:24). There, too, is a spiritual warfare.
Jesus went on to demonstrate His absolute authority over the powers of darkness. As the crowd once more clamoured around, Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and commanded, “Come out of him, and no more may you enter into him.” Having cried out and, again, thrown the young man into convulsions, it came out; and the young man was so still that many said that he was dead (Mark 9:25-26).
Our compassionate Saviour next took the young man by the hand, raised him up, and he arose (Mark 9:27). What a glorious picture of our deliverance! The work is the Lord’s: we have only to respond to it.
When they came indoors, the disciples asked Jesus privately why they could not cast out the spirit. This kind, they were told, only come out with prayer. (Mark 9:28-29). It is important for us to maintain a life of prayer, as well as of service.
