How Long Ago? - Mark 9:21

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 in chapter nine and verse twenty-one of his book, Mark shared how Jesus asked the father, “how long is it ago since this came unto him?” where we read:

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

The verse reads, “And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?” Mark began with the words, “and he asked his father” which means “and Jesus question and inquired of the boy's father”, “how long is it ago” or “how much time has gone by” “since this came” which means “when the spirit arose and appeared” “unto him” or “to the boy”? Mark shared how Jesus questioned the “father” of the “mute” son as to what length of time this spirit appeared within his son.

The verse goes on to say, “And he said, Of a child.” Mark continued with the words, “and he said” which means “and the father of the boy uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “of a child” or “since the boy's childhood”. Mark shared how the father answered Jesus' question by saying the boy had been this way since he was a small child.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how this father endured this condition in his son for a while. Though we are uncertain as to the exact length of time, we can imagine how difficult this was for the boy and his father. Sometimes God does not “heal” or “restore” immediately because He has a different purpose and plan in mind with those who are in need. God is “sovereign”, and He choose the timing for Him to work. Jesus came to show people how God the Father is, and when He “delays” for any reason, those who have faith in Him will understand He is not ignorant or aloof toward their situation, but is working all things out in His own time.

Next time Mark shares how the father answered, “ofttimes it has cast him into the fire, and into the waters”, 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".