“Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain…” (Luke 9:37)
What mountain? Mt Transfiguration, where the inner light of Jesus had shone through the clothes he wore and dazzled Peter, James, and John with its brilliance.
“And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were terrified, and running to Him, greeted Him.” (Mark 9:14,15)
The morning sun had not outshone the glory that was still visible on His face. It was a glory that mingled awe with terror.
” And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?” (Mark 9:16)
“A man came to Him, kneeling down to Him…” (Matthew 17:14)
“Teacher, I implore you, look upon my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him, so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. So I implored your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” (Luke 9:38-40)
“Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” (Luke 9:41)
“How long has this been happening to him?” (Mark 9:21)
” And he said, From childhood; and often it has thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.” (Mark 9:22)
“If I can do anything”? Jesus rejoined. (Was there anything he could not do?) “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
The question wasn’t – never is – can Jesus do anything, but rather, can we believe that he can do it through us? Unbelief always questions, but the answer to all of our problems is in our God-given faith.
“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, I believe: help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)
“When Jesus saw that the people were running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, You deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter him no more. And he became as one dead, so that many said – He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, lifted him up, and he arose.” (Mark 9:25-27)
“And when He came into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast it out?” (Mark 9:28; Matthew 17:19)
Certainly, they had tried! Was their failure due to the absence of Jesus, his boldest disciple, Peter, and James and John – the Sons of Thunder? No, it was their unbelief. Unbelief is an attitude. An attitude is a fixed mental position. A position can be changed at will. The truth was that the faithlessness of their generation was revealed in their unbelief. They went through the motions, for the boy’s sake. But in their minds, they thought they couldn’t – and because of that they were right!
“So Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief; for assuredly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there! And it will move; and nothing shall be impossible for you. ” (Matthew 17:20)
It takes a minimal amount of faith to move a maximum obstacle. If you believe that you can, then you will. Your words express your beliefs. If you doubt in your heart, it will not happen. But if you believe that the things you say will come to pass, you will have whatever you say – “mountains” notwithstanding!
“However, this kind does not go out, except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21)
From this combined account of Jesus delivering the young boy, we may conclude that:
1. A visible lack of spiritual authority, by those who should be able to demonstrate it in desperate situations, invites religious opposition.
2. The glory of Christ both amazes and terrifies people – they run to him, even though terrified of him! We should never underestimate the power of the anointing to draw people who are afraid of it.
3. The question is never what Jesus can do, but what we can do: (a) with the smallest amount of faith; and (b) with our God-given authority: the all-powerful Name of Jesus.
4. Although we would naturally prefer to remain in “mountaintop experiences” with Jesus, the more pressing need is that we “come down” to where “mountains” must be moved from the lives of needy people.
5. The unbelief in the boy’s father was also in the disciples, who didn’t know that they had it – until Jesus informed them!
6. When we truly believe, obstacles move aside at our command, because words of faith spoken by believers never take into account so-called impossibilities!
7. The more compatible demons are with those they possess, the more discernment is needed, and the more prayer is required, because of the “tearing” that takes place during their departure.
8. The Majesty of Jesus is seen not only in spiritual revelations and ecstatic experiences, but also in restorations on the lower levels of human existence, where the entry of the super into the natural brings about the supernatural.