Good morning,
This week we will study Mark 9.
The Book of Mark
Chapter 9
And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. (Mark 9:7)
Healing of a Boy with an Unclean Spirit (14-29)
14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.20 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.21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.26 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.27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Upon returning to the other disciples, Jesus finds them in a dispute with the scribes. A man from the crowd explains that his son is possessed by a spirit that causes seizures. The disciples were unable to cast it out. Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit, and the boy is healed. Jesus later tells the disciples that this kind of spirit can only come out by prayer.
Jesus heals a boy with an unclean spirit, whose father expressed both faith and unbelief. The disciples’ inability to perform this healing highlights their lack of faith.The healing of the demon-possessed boy highlights the importance of faith. Jesus emphasizes that everything is possible for one who believes (Mark 9:23). (https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/mark/9.htm)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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