Mark wrote how, “all the people, when they beheld” Jesus “were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. And he asked the scribes, What question you with them? And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto you my son, which has a dumb spirit. And wheresoever he takes him, he tears him: and he foams, and gnashes with his teeth, and pines away: and I spake to your disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answered him, and said, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child”, and in chapter nine and verse twenty-two of his book, Mark shared how the father added, “ofttimes it has cast him into the fire, and into the waters” where we read:
And ofttimes it has cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him:
but if you can do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
The verse reads, “And ofttimes it has cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him:” Mark began with the words, “and ofttimes” which means “and frequently” “it has cast him” or “the spirit has thrown the mute boy” “into the fire” which means “into a fiery fire”, “and into the waters” or “and into waters of rivers, fountains, pools and waves of the sea”, “to destroy him” which means “to entirely abolish, render useless, kill and put an end to the boy”. Mark shared how the father continued to describe what happened to his son when the “evil spirit” overtook him as it “threw” him into “fires” and “waters” for the purpose of “destroying” him.
The verse continues, “but if you can do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.” Mark added the words, “but if you can do any thing” which means “nevertheless, moreover and whether you, which means Jesus, are capable and willing to perform or produce something strong and powerful”, “have compassion” or “be moved with care, love and pity” “on us” which refers to “the man and his son”, “and help us” or “and succor and give aid to the man and his son”. Mark shared how the man with the “possessed son” appealed to Jesus to care for and pity he and his son by “doing” something to“help” them.
When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how the man described more of the destructive behaviors within his son when the “evil spirit” overtook him. This “spirit” desired to “destroy or kill” this son and threw him into burning “fires” and life threatening “waters” to do so. The father needed Jesus to “do” something”, and the man asked Jesus to “love, pity and help” them. God is capable, and His desire is to “help” people not only with their “physical” needs, but also their “spiritual” needs. “Sin” separates people from God as the Bible declares, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (See Romans 3:23), and the greatest need for people is to be “saved” from “sins” so they might live with God forever. God loves people, and His desire is to meet their needs, and those who are wise shall call out to Him in faith in His Son Jesus.
Next time Mark shares how Jesus tells the father, “if you can believe, all things are possible”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment