July 20th, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Confronting Failure

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Opening Prayer

Holy Spirit of God, by Your breath I’m refreshed and invigorated. Clear away my confusion, and dispel any sinful intentions.

Read MARK 9:14-29

[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] “You 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 one 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 impure 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.”

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Whenever there is a new emphasis on prayer in the church, a fresh release of power comes upon the congregation” (Judson Cornwall). Prayer and power is just what we need!

Think Further

“An epileptic with a tendency to suicidal mania” is how one commentator describes the boy whom Jesus’ disciples failed to heal. Mark makes it clear that the root cause was demon possession. His account ought not to be casually dismissed as superstitious. The victim’s lack of control over his motor responses is paralleled by cases cited in modern anthropological studies of spirit possession. We ought not allow our fascination with science and technology to blind us to the danger of ignoring the reality of demonic activity in our fallen world. The case in view is one of the severest examples of demon possession recorded in the Gospels. The disciples were unable to cast out this spirit, despite having been commissioned by Jesus to exorcise, and despite previously having had some success (6:7-13). Why did the disciples fail?  

Jesus offers two reasons. First, they lacked faith. So deficient was their faith that Jesus calls them an “unbelieving generation” (19), a term he normally reserves for Pharisees and teachers of the law (c.f. 8:12). Perhaps they succumbed to the popular superstition that demons can find secure refuge behind a victim’s deafness. In contrast, the boy’s father had faith in the power of Jesus to break through any such demonic defense. His faith was real (“I do believe”) but not unrealistic (“help me overcome my unbelief!” v. 24). Was it because the father believed that his son was healed?  

The second reason for the disciples’ failure was lack of prayer (29). Perhaps they assumed they were invested with a quasi-magical power which they trusted rather than calling on Jesus’ name. Faith and prayer are essential to effective service, and are intimately interconnected. Prayer is both an expression of faith and an appeal for greater faith. Today, as then, God releases his power in response to believing and beseeching prayer.

Apply

How healthy is your prayer life? If there’s something you need from God, pray earnestly about it now, in faith.

Closing prayer

Dear Lord, I need more prayer and more power in my life. Forgive my prayerlessness and release Your power in me as I pray.

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