Sunday School Lesson
Key Verse: And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. Mark 16:6,KJV
Introduction: Our celebrations of Easter can be pretty bland. Easter eggs, chocolate, and lilies are not very threatening. But the first Easter was scary. If Jesus was alive, then life could not continue as usual.The resurrection is a historical fact. Faith in the resurrected Jesus begins with the acceptance of eyewitness testimony. That testimony is collaborated by all four Gospels and literally hundreds of people (1 Corinthians 15:6). Depending on how one counts, Jesus made 13 resurrection appearances.
Judge Herbert Casteel was a judge in Missouri for years. He wrote that if collaborative eyewitness testimonies came into his courtroom similar to the record that we have in the New Testament, he would have to conclude that Jesus of Nazareth was alive.
Going to the Tomb
Mark 16:1-3KJV
1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
The women were the last at the cross and the first at the tomb. They were quicker to believe than the men. Mark mentions three—Mary from Magdala (from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons, Mark 16:9), Mary the mother of James (about whom we know nothing), and Salome (very possibly the mother of James and John).Jesus’ burial by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus was, of necessity, done quickly. They only had three hours to prepare Jesus’ body before the Sabbath began. Even though the men used 75 pounds of spices, the women felt compelled (out of love?) to anoint Jesus’ body again. So as soon as the Sabbath was over and the sun began to rise, they scurried off to the tomb. They arrived very early on the first day of the week. (That phrase appears several times in the Gospel of Mark and usually in a positive sense, except in Mark 15:1). These earliest witnesses of the resurrection began to discuss their obstacle while walking to the tomb. They remembered the rock’s size and the Roman seal across it. What would they do? No worries.
Entering the Tomb
Mark 16:4-5KJV
4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
God’s power took care of the women’s problem. The stone had been rolled away. No doubt rather carefully, they entered the tomb. This was quite a risk and not a little frightening. They saw an angel. Young man is only used in Mark’s Gospel. He was dressed in a white robe. All the women could do was stare and be alarmed (the translation of alarmed is the same word for “marvel”).
The announcement by the angel contains three imperatives, two indicatives, and one promise. The imperatives: 1. Don’t be alarmed. This is the standard line that angels use with humans in the Bible. 2. See the place where they laid him. The resurrection is of such significance that Heaven invites us to investigate it. There is no need to kiss one’s brains good-bye on Easter or have blind faith. 3. Go tell his disciples and Peter. While the disciples would be skeptical at first to accept this announcement, this message would be especially important to Peter (John 20:3-10; 1 Corinthians 15:5).
He Is Risen
Mark 16:6-8
6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
The two indicatives: 1. You are looking for Jesus . . . who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. What God has done precedes what we do. 2. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. Each of the Gospels has a great commission statement. Galilee is the place of that statement for Matthew and Mark. Jerusalem is the place of that statement in Luke and John.The promise is singular: There you will see him, just as he told you. In light of the resurrection, that promise is made all the more sure.
Mark’s Gospel ends as abruptly as it began. If the Gospel ends in verse 8 (there is a major textual issue with verses 9-20), Jesus does not even show up in his own resurrection account. The women run from the tomb scared to death—but hoping in faith that it is all true. Mark uses three words for their anxiety: trembling (trauma), bewildered (ecstasy), and afraid (phobia). All of this underscores the mysterious, busy Messiah presented in Mark’s Gospel.John Ortberg tells about a minister named Skip Viau who, in a children’s sermon, posed this question to the kids: “What were Jesus’ first words to the disciples after he was raised from the dead?” Before Skip could answer the question, a little girl waved her hand. “I know,” she said. “Ta da!” We are the “Ta da!” people. We have resurrection faith.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Struggling Faith
Sunday School Lesson
Lesson Scripture: And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. Mark 14:30
Introduction: A common struggle we face is consistent faith. On Palm Sunday the people shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9). But by Friday they shouted, “Crucify him” (Mark 15:14). Peter (and the other disciples) had that same struggle. His life did not match his lip. He intended well, but he was overwhelmed with excessive pride. When push came to shove, he caved in.
A Scattering Is Promised
Mark 14:26-28KJV
26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
The disciples’ experience in the upper room had been intense. Jesus had washed their feet (John 13:1-20), he had instituted the Lord’s Supper at the Passover meal (Mark 14:22-25), he had given many promises about the Holy Spirit (John 14–16), and he had made two piercing predictions. The first was of Judas’s betrayal. The second was of Peter’s denial. This betrayal prediction was evidently given en route to the Garden of Gethsemane (located partway up on the Mount of Olives). In the only passage in the Gospels where we find that Jesus sang, we read, When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Perhaps Jesus sang, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad” (Psalm 118:22-24). Somewhere between the upper room and Gethsemane, Jesus said: You will all fall away. This had to shock the disciples. Jesus had previously predicted his death and gave additional details each successive time (Mark 8, 9, and 10). Here he made a strange use of Zechariah 13:7 to prove his point. He was Israel’s true shepherd, and when he was struck the sheep (disciples) would scatter. No doubt the image of sheep was available to Jesus since they had just come from the Passover meal. But there was hope in the midst of this shocking revelation. Jesus would be raised from the dead and meet up with the disciples in Galilee.
The Scattering Is Denied
Mark 14:29-31KJV
29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
This was too much for Peter. He made a presumptuous promise of loyalty. He meant well. Yet Jesus underlined his prediction by saying that during the night (when Jesus’ six trials were taking place) Peter would disown Jesus three times. This would be known to Peter by the crowing of a rooster twice (a detail that is unique to Mark). Peter insisted “emphatically” (ESV)—literally, “he spoke out excessively”—that he would be loyal. In fact, the other disciples said the same. Everyone intended well, but as the secular proverb says, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”
A Shattering Denial
Mark 14:66-72KJV
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Our text fast forwards through Gethsemane, the betrayal by Judas, the arrest, and the first Jewish trial that took place in the high priest’s house. Peter’s presence in the high priest’s courtyard is hard to discern. Did he feel bad about deserting Jesus in the garden? Was he trying to see what would happen to Jesus? Did he intend to use his sword (again) and spring Jesus from the kangaroo court? Whatever his motive, he found himself in the courtyard standing by a fire (John 21:9-19). A servant girl noticed him. You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus. Peter denied it. He lied by feigning ignorance and stepped away to stay incognito.The servant girl tried again. This time she did not call him out. She mentioned him to the others present. It is amazing that a big strong fisherman could be intimidated by a servant girl. Things lesser than us can undo us when we are outside the will of God. Peter was successful in hiding for a while, but people noticed his Galilean accent and drew attention to the fact that he was a disciple. This angered Peter and he swore (spoke with an oath; see Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22). It would be like us saying, “I would swear it on a stack of Bibles.” The rooster crowed a second time and Peter was enveloped in his own nightmare. God used a common barnyard animal to get Peter’s attention. What does it take to get your attention? Peter struggled with faith. But he did find his way back to God. For him there were three steps: 1. He remembered the word Jesus had spoken. 2. He manifested a spirit of brokenness (broke down and wept). 3. He stayed in the group, in contrast to Judas. We would be wise to follow the example of faith in this regard.
Lesson Scripture: And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. Mark 14:30
Introduction: A common struggle we face is consistent faith. On Palm Sunday the people shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9). But by Friday they shouted, “Crucify him” (Mark 15:14). Peter (and the other disciples) had that same struggle. His life did not match his lip. He intended well, but he was overwhelmed with excessive pride. When push came to shove, he caved in.
A Scattering Is Promised
Mark 14:26-28KJV
26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
The disciples’ experience in the upper room had been intense. Jesus had washed their feet (John 13:1-20), he had instituted the Lord’s Supper at the Passover meal (Mark 14:22-25), he had given many promises about the Holy Spirit (John 14–16), and he had made two piercing predictions. The first was of Judas’s betrayal. The second was of Peter’s denial. This betrayal prediction was evidently given en route to the Garden of Gethsemane (located partway up on the Mount of Olives). In the only passage in the Gospels where we find that Jesus sang, we read, When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Perhaps Jesus sang, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad” (Psalm 118:22-24). Somewhere between the upper room and Gethsemane, Jesus said: You will all fall away. This had to shock the disciples. Jesus had previously predicted his death and gave additional details each successive time (Mark 8, 9, and 10). Here he made a strange use of Zechariah 13:7 to prove his point. He was Israel’s true shepherd, and when he was struck the sheep (disciples) would scatter. No doubt the image of sheep was available to Jesus since they had just come from the Passover meal. But there was hope in the midst of this shocking revelation. Jesus would be raised from the dead and meet up with the disciples in Galilee.
The Scattering Is Denied
Mark 14:29-31KJV
29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
This was too much for Peter. He made a presumptuous promise of loyalty. He meant well. Yet Jesus underlined his prediction by saying that during the night (when Jesus’ six trials were taking place) Peter would disown Jesus three times. This would be known to Peter by the crowing of a rooster twice (a detail that is unique to Mark). Peter insisted “emphatically” (ESV)—literally, “he spoke out excessively”—that he would be loyal. In fact, the other disciples said the same. Everyone intended well, but as the secular proverb says, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”
A Shattering Denial
Mark 14:66-72KJV
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Our text fast forwards through Gethsemane, the betrayal by Judas, the arrest, and the first Jewish trial that took place in the high priest’s house. Peter’s presence in the high priest’s courtyard is hard to discern. Did he feel bad about deserting Jesus in the garden? Was he trying to see what would happen to Jesus? Did he intend to use his sword (again) and spring Jesus from the kangaroo court? Whatever his motive, he found himself in the courtyard standing by a fire (John 21:9-19). A servant girl noticed him. You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus. Peter denied it. He lied by feigning ignorance and stepped away to stay incognito.The servant girl tried again. This time she did not call him out. She mentioned him to the others present. It is amazing that a big strong fisherman could be intimidated by a servant girl. Things lesser than us can undo us when we are outside the will of God. Peter was successful in hiding for a while, but people noticed his Galilean accent and drew attention to the fact that he was a disciple. This angered Peter and he swore (spoke with an oath; see Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22). It would be like us saying, “I would swear it on a stack of Bibles.” The rooster crowed a second time and Peter was enveloped in his own nightmare. God used a common barnyard animal to get Peter’s attention. What does it take to get your attention? Peter struggled with faith. But he did find his way back to God. For him there were three steps: 1. He remembered the word Jesus had spoken. 2. He manifested a spirit of brokenness (broke down and wept). 3. He stayed in the group, in contrast to Judas. We would be wise to follow the example of faith in this regard.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Powerful Faith
Sunday School Lesson
Lesson Scripture: Mark 9:14-29
Key Verse: And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mark9:24
Introduction: The apostles said, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). What could be more important than an increasing faith in a powerful God? As upside down as it sounds, one thing that causes our faith to increase is doubt. Healthy doubt that seeks understanding is a good thing. But when doubt goes to seed, it turns to unbelief. Faith isn’t static—it advances and retreats; it goes forward and then backs up. Frederick Buechner said, “Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving.”
The Need For Faith
Mark 9:14-19KJV
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.
The narratives of the middle portion of Mark’s Gospel can be divided into three parts. There are boat stories (Mark 4:35–6:13), bread stories 6:14–8:21), and blind stories (8:22–10:52). Our lesson text comes from discipleship passages that are bracketed by the healing of blind men (8:22-26; 10:46-52). Faith helps us see well. When Moses came down from the mountain with the law, he found apostasy (Exodus 32:1-35). When Jesus came down from the mountain with glory (the transfiguration had just taken place), he faced disappointed disciples, a desperate father, and the demons of Hell in a helpless boy. Jesus, Peter, James, and John rejoined the other nine disciples. The crowd was overwhelmed with wonder (one of Mark’s favorite expressions) to see Jesus, but the teachers of the law were arguing (“to have zeal with”) with the nine disciples. Perhaps the religious elite were poking fun at the nine disciples’ inability to help the father and boy. Even the father admitted, “I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” The nine disciples seemed dumbfounded that they failed to drive out the demon. After all, they had done this before (Mark 6:13). Jesus connected the dots between the disciples’ lack of faith and their lack of prayer. Maybe they had begun to do ministry in the power of the flesh. Maybe their dependence on God had gone on autopilot. Their faith (or lack thereof) had failed.
A Plea For Greater Faith
Mark 9: 20-24
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.
The boy was in a desperate situation. He had an impure (“unclean”) spirit (Mark’s way of talking about demon possession), mentioned four times in our text. This demonic force caused havoc in self-destructive behavior. The boy gave evidence of severe seizures (foaming at the mouth, rigid posture, and convulsions). The boy also was robbed of speech (Jesus addressed the spirit as a deaf and mute spirit) and found himself helpless in near-death experiences (burning and drowning). This text shows our enemy’s attitude toward little children. The father might have been in an even more desperate situation. He struggled with faith. But he did the right thing by taking his son to Jesus. He pleaded for pity (compassion). Jesus asked, “How long has he been like this? The father responded, “From childhood.” Then the father spilled out his true feelings: “If you can.” Jesus picked up on that faltering faith and rebuked the father with a question (“If you can?”) and a statement (“Everything is possible for one who believes”). In one of the most honest statements in the Bible, the father said, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” This is honest doubt. John Ortberg said, “Disciples are not people who never doubt. They doubt and worship. They doubt and serve. They doubt and help each other with their doubts. They doubt and practice faithfulness.” In faith there is room for doubt.
The Power Of Faith
Mark 9:25-29KJV
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.
When Jesus has to place his power over the demonic forces against our little faith, he gets frustrated. Jesus seemed exasperated when he said, “You unbelieving generation . . . how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” Jesus was underwhelmed by people’s lack of faith (Mark 6:5). However, be careful of overinterpreting a supposed harshness of spirit in Jesus. Notice that he said, “Bring the boy to me.” Demon possessed people were to be pitied, not judged. The young boy was not to be blamed for the disciples’ failed faith or the father’s doubt. The boy was helpless against the onslaught of Hell. Jesus wanted no hoopla, so when he saw the crowd running to the scene, he commanded the spirit to come out of the boy and never enter him again. For a brief moment Jesus let us look into a world without the influence of the devil. In the end, Jesus is the one who shows powerful faith.
Lesson Scripture: Mark 9:14-29
Key Verse: And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mark9:24
Introduction: The apostles said, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). What could be more important than an increasing faith in a powerful God? As upside down as it sounds, one thing that causes our faith to increase is doubt. Healthy doubt that seeks understanding is a good thing. But when doubt goes to seed, it turns to unbelief. Faith isn’t static—it advances and retreats; it goes forward and then backs up. Frederick Buechner said, “Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving.”
The Need For Faith
Mark 9:14-19KJV
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.
The narratives of the middle portion of Mark’s Gospel can be divided into three parts. There are boat stories (Mark 4:35–6:13), bread stories 6:14–8:21), and blind stories (8:22–10:52). Our lesson text comes from discipleship passages that are bracketed by the healing of blind men (8:22-26; 10:46-52). Faith helps us see well. When Moses came down from the mountain with the law, he found apostasy (Exodus 32:1-35). When Jesus came down from the mountain with glory (the transfiguration had just taken place), he faced disappointed disciples, a desperate father, and the demons of Hell in a helpless boy. Jesus, Peter, James, and John rejoined the other nine disciples. The crowd was overwhelmed with wonder (one of Mark’s favorite expressions) to see Jesus, but the teachers of the law were arguing (“to have zeal with”) with the nine disciples. Perhaps the religious elite were poking fun at the nine disciples’ inability to help the father and boy. Even the father admitted, “I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” The nine disciples seemed dumbfounded that they failed to drive out the demon. After all, they had done this before (Mark 6:13). Jesus connected the dots between the disciples’ lack of faith and their lack of prayer. Maybe they had begun to do ministry in the power of the flesh. Maybe their dependence on God had gone on autopilot. Their faith (or lack thereof) had failed.
A Plea For Greater Faith
Mark 9: 20-24
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.
The boy was in a desperate situation. He had an impure (“unclean”) spirit (Mark’s way of talking about demon possession), mentioned four times in our text. This demonic force caused havoc in self-destructive behavior. The boy gave evidence of severe seizures (foaming at the mouth, rigid posture, and convulsions). The boy also was robbed of speech (Jesus addressed the spirit as a deaf and mute spirit) and found himself helpless in near-death experiences (burning and drowning). This text shows our enemy’s attitude toward little children. The father might have been in an even more desperate situation. He struggled with faith. But he did the right thing by taking his son to Jesus. He pleaded for pity (compassion). Jesus asked, “How long has he been like this? The father responded, “From childhood.” Then the father spilled out his true feelings: “If you can.” Jesus picked up on that faltering faith and rebuked the father with a question (“If you can?”) and a statement (“Everything is possible for one who believes”). In one of the most honest statements in the Bible, the father said, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” This is honest doubt. John Ortberg said, “Disciples are not people who never doubt. They doubt and worship. They doubt and serve. They doubt and help each other with their doubts. They doubt and practice faithfulness.” In faith there is room for doubt.
The Power Of Faith
Mark 9:25-29KJV
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.
When Jesus has to place his power over the demonic forces against our little faith, he gets frustrated. Jesus seemed exasperated when he said, “You unbelieving generation . . . how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?” Jesus was underwhelmed by people’s lack of faith (Mark 6:5). However, be careful of overinterpreting a supposed harshness of spirit in Jesus. Notice that he said, “Bring the boy to me.” Demon possessed people were to be pitied, not judged. The young boy was not to be blamed for the disciples’ failed faith or the father’s doubt. The boy was helpless against the onslaught of Hell. Jesus wanted no hoopla, so when he saw the crowd running to the scene, he commanded the spirit to come out of the boy and never enter him again. For a brief moment Jesus let us look into a world without the influence of the devil. In the end, Jesus is the one who shows powerful faith.
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