Mark 9:20-24 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The spirit tare him— Cast him into convulsions. Doubtless Jesus could easily have prevented this attack; but he wisely permitted it, that the minds of the spectators might be impressed with a more lively notion of the young man's distress. It was for the same reason also that he asked his father how long he had been in that deplorable condition? who informed him, that he had been so even from his childhood. The afflicted father, greatly discouraged by the inability of our Lord's disciples, and dispirited by the sight of his son's misery, and by the remembrance of its long continuance, was afraid that this possession might surpass the power even of Jesus himself, as the scribes averred; and so could not help expressing his doubts and fears, If thou canst do any thing, &c. Wherefore, to make him sensible of his mistake, Jesus said unto him, Mark 9:23 in allusion to the expressions of diffidence which he had uttered, If thou canst believe, &c. The father, hearing this, cried out with tears, that he believed; and besought Jesus to supply, by his goodness and pity, whatever deficiency he might find in his faith, Mark 9:24. As Christ's miracles were the proof of his mission, it may seem strange that on this and several other occasions, (see Matthew 9:28.) before he would work the desired miracles, he required the subjects of them to believe on him. Perhaps these were the reasons: 1. His enemies frequently desired to see signs or miracles, feigning a disposition to believe (Matthew 16:1.): but the persons they brought to be cured, and the signs that they demanded, being generally such as they hoped would prove superior to his power, their true intention was, that, failing in the attempt, he should expose himself. For Jesus, therefore, to have wrought miracles in such circumstances, would have served scarcely any purpose, unless it was to gratify the unreasonable curiosity of his enemies, or rather their malignant disposition; a conduct, which instead of convincing must have enraged them, and prompted them to contrive, if possible, some more speedy method of destroying him. We know that Lazarus's resurrection had this effect; which is an incontestable demonstration that the obstinacy of Christ's enemies was not to be overcome by any evidence, how clear or strong soever; and therefore he in his divine wisdom avoided performing miracles before this sort of persons, who could not be profited by them; as for instance, in his own country, where he did not many mighty works, because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58. For the same reason, when any came to him begging miraculous cures, whether for themselves or others, it was very proper to ask, if the cure was sought to gratify a vain curiosity, and with secret hopes that Jesus would fail in the attempt, or from a real persuasion that he was able to perform it. Our Lord, it is true, was intimately acquainted with the thoughts and intentions of all men, and so had no needto put this question for his own information; but he did it to signify, that he would not work miracles merely to gratify the evil dispositions of unreasonable men. 2. It should be considered, that while the secular power did not interpose its authority to support the credit of our Lord's miracles, the more universally the faith of them prevailed in the country, where, and at the same time when they were wrought, the greater must their evidence be to us in after-times. Because such a general persuasion demonstrates, that our Lord's miracles were publicly performed; that many persons were present at them; that the eye-witnesses entertained no doubt of them; and that they related them to others, who, giving their testimony, believed them to be real. In this view of the matter, it concerns us not a little to know the opinion which our Lord's countrymen entertained of him, and of his works. We may therefore justly suppose, that one of the reasons of his asking those who came to him, if they believed that he was able toperform the cures they solicited, might be, to make us, who live in after-times, sensible how far the reports of his miracles were spread, how firmly they were believed, how great was the number of those who believed them, and how highly he himself was reverenced on account of them. This observation shews the wisdom and propriety of the expression which our Lord often made use of in conferring his miraculous cures; Matthew 8:13. As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. Matthew 9:22. Thy faith hath made thee whole. Luke 8:50. Believe only, and she shall be made whole. Luke 18:42. Thy faith hath saved thee. For the cures following leave us no room to suspect, that the declarations which they gave of their faith in his miracles were feigned or doubtful. See Luke 8:48. But, 3 and especially, it must be added, that faith in the goodness and power of Christ, tended so much to the glory of the Creator, and the humiliation of the creature, that above all things it prepared the poor petitioner to receive the benefitofourLord'smiraculousinterference;which,consistentlywithhisownhonour and perfections, he could in this case exert to the uttermost.