3/21/10 Guide

When You Need A Miracle
Mark 9:14-29
Week of 3/21/10

Getting Started

Have you ever run out of gas? How many times? Where? What did you do?

Digging Deeper

1) Read verses 14-17. What do you think was being debated between the disciples and scribes concerning the boy’s condition? Should the disciples have been doing something different than arguing? What are some ways that we tend spiritualize challenges to avoid being practical?

2) In verse 17, why do you think the father says to Jesus, “I brought you my son…” when he had in fact brought him to Jesus’ disciples? What does this tell us about the importance of representing Jesus well to people?

3) In verses 17,18 and 20, we have a vivid description of the effects of demon possession. How might some explain the son’s condition medically? How can we tell if a condition like this is spiritual or purely medical?

Keep the following considerations in mind.

Humans are a soul/body entity. The soul or the body can affect the soul, and the body or the soul can affect the body. For example, my hands may shoot up in the air due to some pure physical reflex (like a brain surgeon pressing on a certain portion of my brain), or because my soul desires to express worship to God. As applied the immediate subject, a person may experience a physical condition (such as epilepsy, some form of mental illness, death) for either physical or spiritual reasons. A person may be epileptic because of a malfunction of something in the brain due purely physical reasons, or because of demonic influence.

People may mistakenly handle a condition thinking it to be a physical one when it is a spiritual one. People may handle a condition thinking it to be a spiritual one when it is a physical one. The determination will sometimes be difficult.

It appears that at least in some of the cases in the New Testament, those demon-possessed displayed behavior that could not be explained physically. So with this boy, in Luke’s account, the spirit is described as “mauling him” when he leaves Luke 9:42. As Jesus approaches, the spirit “slams him to the ground.” In Mark, we read of a demoniac who display’s supernatural strength (5:1-5).

There also seems to be a presence of malevolence and evil that is not true of purely physical condition. The demoniacs are described as extremely violent (Mark 5). In Matthew’s account of this boy’s deliverance, the father describes him being thrown into fire and water (Matthew 17:15). This has the earmarks of a force purposely trying to harm this boy.

Perhaps this is where the gift of “distinguishing spirits” kicks in (1 Cor. 12:10).

4) Read verse 19. How did Jesus respond to unbelief? Was his frustration directed towards his disciples? Why?

The disciples experienced an atmosphere that should have promoted a faith great enough to help this boy. They were commissioned with authority over demons (Mark 3:15), and had it modeled throughout Jesus’ ministry.

5) The father entreats Jesus saying, “If you can help us, take pity on us” (vs. 22). How is the father’s faith challenged by his son’s (1) history and (2) his own vagueness on who Jesus is?

As to his son’s history, it is very natural to be resigned to live with a condition that has been ongoing. As to his vagueness, the father wasn’t sure if Christ could heal his son.

6) In verse 23, Jesus says “Everything is possible for him who believes.” How do we explain this verse in a way that encourages people to have confidence that God will act, while avoiding the extreme expectation that God will always act?

On the one hand, notice that the text doesn’t say everything will be actual for him who believes, but “possible.” “Everything” must certainly be qualified by God’s revealed will and secret will. On the other hand, the point of this passage is to encourage people to have an increased confidence that God will do things that seem to be impossible for us.

7) Read verse 24. Take a circumstance that you’re in or have been and fill in the following blanks: “I do believe you for __________; help me overcome my unbelief with _________.”

8) Compare verses 28 & 29 with verses 17 & 18. How could the urgency of the moment and the presence of the crowd have moved the disciples to skip the prayer necessary for this exorcism? Give an example of when you allowed the pressure of the moment to prevent you from taking the time necessary to seek God for guidance? What was the outcome?

9) Comparing the above verses once again, how might have the disciples’ attempt to help this child without prayer be an indication of self-reliance?

10) What is the relationship of growing faith and quality prayer? What are some biblical examples?

Putting It Into Practice

Spend some time discussing and praying for areas in your lives where you need greater faith.

Celebrate with Communion