Mark wrote how a man with a son who was “mute” by an “evil spirit” said to Jesus, “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.” Jesus 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 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. Jesus said unto him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose”, and in chapter nine and verse twenty-eight of his book, Mark shared how Jesus' disciples asked Him,“why could not we cast him out?” where we read:
And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately,
Why could not we cast him out?
The verse reads, “And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, ...” Mark began with the words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “he was come” or “Jesus entered” “into the house” which means “into the dwelling place, habitation and abode”, “his disciples” which refers to “Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “asked him privately” or “questioned, inquired and sought an answer of Jesus separately and alone”. Mark shared how Jesus' “disciples” questioned Him alone after He entered a home in the area where He ministered.
The verse continues, “... Why could not we cast him out?” Mark added the words, “why could not” which means “for what reason and cause was there no ability” “we cast him out” or “for Jesus' disciples to drive, throw, send or expel the spirit from the boy”? Mark shared how Jesus' “disciples” wanted to know the reason they were unable to “cast” the “evil spirit” out of the man's son.
When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we discover the lack of understanding within Jesus' “disciples” as to “why” they were unable to “expel” the “evil spirit” within the boy. Jesus was more powerful than any “demon”, and His disciples had previous experience “casting out” demons, but this one was different. God knows the different rankings and powers within the “spiritual” world, and this was an “evil spirit” only He was able to overcome. God wants all people to come to Him through His Son Jesus, and when they do, they have the greatest resource for dealing with the “devils” in this world they shall ever need.
Next time Mark shares how Jesus answered, “this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting”, 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".
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