Jesus' Disciples Could Not Cast the Spirit Out - Luke 9:40

The beloved physician Luke wrote, “And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him. And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech you, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a spirit takes him, and he suddenly cries out; and it tears him that he foams again, and bruising him hardly departs from him.”, and in chapter nine and verse forty of his book Luke shared how the man tells Jesus, “I besought your disciples to cast him out; and they could not” where we read:

And I besought your disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

The verse reads, “And I besought your disciples to cast him out;” Luke began with the words, “and I besought your disciples” or “and the man begged, plead with, desired and asked Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “to cast him out” which means “to drive out, expel and compel the spirit to leave the son”. Luke shared how the man told Jesus he “begged” His “disciples” to “expel” the “evil spirit” within his son.

The verse goes on to say, “and they could not.” Luke continued with the words, “and they” which means “and Jesus' disciples” “could not” or “were unable to expel the spirit”. Luke shared how the man told Jesus His “disciples” were unable to “cast out” the “demon”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we discover how the man first asked Jesus' disciples to “cast” the “evil spirit” out of his son, but they were unsuccessful in their attempt. Though Jesus' disciples previously “expelled” demons, this one was more powerful than their efforts. God knows the power of each and every “evil spirit”, and Jesus would demonstrate His power over all of them. This was to be another example of why Jesus was and is the “Christ and Messiah” of God, and those who believe and trust in Him will be forgiven of their sins, inherit everlasting life and have access to His ability and power over every evil spirit.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?”, 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".