Satan Vs Jesus - Mark 9:14-29 Series

Mark 9:14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 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."

20 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." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" 29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

Satan Hates You

The way Jesus drags this out, you get the sense that he’s drawing our attention to how evil this demon really is. When the demon attacks the boy after seeing Jesus, you expect Jesus to drive the demon out right away like he usually does. But instead he asks a question. The boy is writing around on the ground, foaming at the mouth, gnashing his teeth, and … 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" What does that matter? Is there a statute of limitations on driving out demons? Does Jesus need this information to be able to drive the demon out? No. For one thing, Jesus just cares about this man’s plight. It may not matter to us how long it had been going on, but I guarantee it mattered to that father. And to that boy. And so it mattered to Jesus. Jesus gives this man a chance to describe how severe his trial had been. But I think the main purpose here is for us to know how bad the situation really was. So Jesus asks the question, and the answer he gets is bone-chilling.

21 … "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered.

The boy is a child, so I take this to mean “from infancy.” Can you imagine? I remember how heartbroken we all were when we got the news that little Abbie had cystic fibrosis. Can you imagine having a baby and eventually you realize, this child is deaf? Then you realize he is also mute. Then you find out he has a demon. And not just any demon—this is a demon that’s far more powerful than other demons, and vicious and cruel beyond comprehension. Can you imagine anyone whipping a little child around like a dog with a rag doll? That’s how evil Satan is.

22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.”

Nikki’s whole life has been consumed with feeding and caring for little Abbie—making sure she gets all the medicine and treatments she needs. Can you imagine if your whole life was consumed with just rescuing your child from efforts to kill him? Constantly wrapping the horrible burns on his little arms and legs and chest and back from when the demon threw him into fires? Pulling him out of water and reviving him.

And remember, this is not a disease doing this; it’s a spirit—a sentient being doing this on purpose. How evil do you have to be to do that to a child? An infant! This demon is so vicious. Did you notice how Mark keeps giving descriptions of what the demon does?

18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid.