And when He came to His disciples, He saw a great multitude about them.
The evil spirit cast out
Learn from this narrative-
I. The omnipotence of true faith in God. It is not so much the amount of one’s faith as the kind, and the fact that one really has it (Matthew 17:20).
II. The powerlessness of Christians without true faith.
III. The discreditableness of Christian inefficiency, leading to questionings and discussions that do more harm than good.
IV. The inefficiency of Christians their own fault. In Christ they may be complete (Colossians 2:10).
V. The duty of ever living year to Christ, relying on Him always and everywhere. (Anon.)
The secret of power
Christ’s reply taught the disciples that-
1. Miracles needed force to work them.
2. Soul forces are the highest class of forces, and faith force is the highest of all soul forces.
3. Faith force needs cherishing
(1) by consecration watchfully kept up, i.e., fasting;
(2) by communion with God carefully maintained, i.e., prayer. Indulgence of the body enfeebles the soul; living apart from God is living apart from omnipotence.
4. Earnest love is the secret of all miracles. Had they made this sorrow their own-fasted as for their own trouble, prayed as for their own mercy-their love would have “believed all things,” and been triumphant in its faith. (R. Glover.)
The afflicted child
This miracle stands inseparably connected with the transfiguration.
I. The Christian is the representative of Christ. The father came to consult Christ, but in His absence appealed to His disciples, it should have been a safe appeal. So, everywhere and always, the Christian represents Christ. He holds in his hands the great trust of Christianity. Coming to him should be equivalent in the healing, saving result to coming to Christ.
II. The failure of the disciple is charged as the failure of Christianity. We do not claim the continuance of the power of miraculous healing, but we do claim the presence of Divine power in the Church. The Christian is entrusted with it. He should be always in possession of it. Let our ideas be clear, our claims carefully scriptural, but let it concern us when Christianity is without manifested power. Men will be turned astray and led to question and despise religion.
III. Christ always manifests himself to protect His Church and to assert His power. It may be after delay. But He comes. He cannot fail.
IV. If one fails with a disciple, let him go directly to Jesus. The petitioner who fails with the captain, goes to the colonel. If he fails again, an earnest petitioner will not stop until he has appealed, if necessary, at headquarters, to the commander-in-chief.
V. Parents should know the condition of their children. Make the moral nature of your child as careful a study as his physical nature. Do not assume too readily that, because young, he is innocent, and good, and harmless.
VI. The difficulty in the way of healing is not want of power in God, but want of faith in man. Faith all must have who would receive benefits from Christ. The blessing given is in proportion to the degree of faith. No faith, no blessing; little faith, partial blessing; great faith, great blessing. (G. R. Leavitt.)
The disciples nonplussed
Like some mighty general who, having been absent from the field of battle, finds that his lieutenants have rashly engaged in action and have been defeated, the left wing is broken, the right has fled, and the centre begins to fail; he lifts his standard in the midst of his troops, and bids them rally around him; they gather; they dash upon the all-but triumphant foemen, and soon they turn the balance of victory, and make the late victors turn their ignominious backs to the flight. Brethren, here is a lesson for us. What we want for conquest is the shout of a King in the midst of us. The presence of Christ is victory to His Church: the absence of the Lord Jesus entails disgraceful defeat. O armies of the living God, count not on your numbers, rely not on your strength; reckon not upon the ability of your ministers; vaunt not in human might; nor on the other hand be discouraged because ye are feeble; if He be with you, more are they that are for you than all they that are against you. If Christ be in your midst, there are horses of fire and chariots of fire round about you. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
The afflicted son
I. The man’s affliction.
1. It was not personal: not in himself, but through his child.
2. It was the consequence of affection. Our love is the source of joy; it is also the cause of pain. Our relationships are a blessing; they often become a curse.
3. It was very terrible. A son not only imbecile, but who could do nothing for his own support.
II. The man’s advantage. Affliction is not an unmixed evil. On the contrary, God often makes it a means of the greatest blessings. In this particular case it led to two great mercies.
(1) It led to the lad himself being brought to Christ, and
(2) it led to the father going as well. How often are parents led to Christ through the sufferings and death of their children.
III. The man’s mistake. Instead of going to the Master at once, he went to the servants. They tried to afford relief, but they tried in vain. This course is very natural to mankind.
1. Our pride induces it. Naaman was too proud to simply obey the Divine command; he wanted the prophet to come and touch him with adulation and respect.
2. Our carnality causes it. We are of the earth earthy. We do not apprehend spiritual things, and will have nothing of them.
3. Our faithlessness produces it. We don’t believe in the power of an unseen God. It is a painful tendency of the human mind to make gods of men, a tendency which in ancient times developed into idolatry.
IV. His application. Finding no other help, the man was obliged to go at last to Christ. We may see here, however-
1. His persistency. Although not relieved by the disciples, he was not deterred by their failure; and probably the disciples, when they failed, did as they ought to do-pointed him to their Master.
2. His small amount of faith. Apparently he was so disheartened that he did not know what to do. Faith differs in degree. How strong was that of the centurion-“Speak but the word, and my servant shall be healed.”
3. The training of his understanding. Christ first rebuked him-“O faithless generation,” etc.
and then encouraged him-“All things are possible to him that believeth.”
V. His developing faith.
1. He acknowledges his conviction. He began to realize the truth of what the Master said. The germs of belief had existed before; otherwise he would not have approached at all.
2. He confesses his imperfection-“Help my unbelief.” There are degrees in everything-in growth, health, wealth.
3. He regrets his weakness-“He said, with tears.”
4. He applied for succour. We may bring all our weakness to the Saviour.
VI. His success. Jesus saved the son. There is help for the weakest. (B. L.)
Sinful men may be looked upon as possessed of the devil
In a hundred ways he tears them, and throws them down; he stops their intelligent speech, and sends them wallowing and foaming in sin. None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good. Even disciples fail. No priest can offer sufficient sacrifice; no man can redeem his brother. “Bring him unto Me!” Faith is in every case of instrumental usefulness positively indispensable. There are times when Christ Himself will do no mighty works because of unbelief. “O faithless generation!” How quickly this explains the coldness and backwardness of the churches. When faith is feeble, what faith there is may well be employed in securing more faith. “Help mine unbelief.” Pray to the “Lord,” even if the word be not in this verse; and pray “with tears” too! (C. S. Robinson, D. D.)
The dumb man possessed with a devil
I. The case of this man.
1. This does not appear to be an ordinary case of dumbness.
2. It was not due to mental ecstasy, such as occasionally produced a temporary suspension of speech. The father of Baptist.
3. The man is described in simple and instructive language as having “a dumb spirit.”
(1) There is the dumbness of a careless heart.
(2)The dumbness of formalism.
(3) The dumbness of shame and disappointment.
(4) The dumbness of despair.
II. The intervention of the man’s friends.
III. The power of Jesus.
1. Absolute supremacy.
2. The manner of the exercise.
3. The mystery of its power. (L. H. Wiseman, M. A.)
I. The application itself.
1. It was made by an afflicted parent. The child mentally afflicted in mind and body-“Oft times the evil spirit.” Every sinner is so far under the power of the devil.
2. It was made by a party that deeply felt the circumstances in which he himself and his suffering child were placed
3. That the person who made it stood ready to do whatever our Lord should direct. For this readiness to obey a truly humble heart prepares us, softened by grace.
4. He despaired of help from any other quarter. He was on the verge of despair previous to our Saviour’s administering help. Our minds must be brought off from every other dependence.
5. The party before us had a little faith, and was pleading for more.
II. The reception which this application to our Saviour met with.
1. Jesus administers reproof to His disciples and to all around Him. Christ often has to reprove us; we deserve it.
2. Jesus directs the sufferer to be brought to Him.
3. Jesus proceeds to correct the views, and inform the mind of the suppliant. Light is given with grace.
4. Jesus gives the party before us the warrant or authority for that faith which He called him to exercise.
5. He strengthens the confidence of the party, whom He thus authorizes to draw near to Him for the blessing requested.
6. The earnestness with which we should draw near to the Great Physician for spiritual help.
7. In some cases of healing special means are to be employed-“Prayer and fasting.” (Joseph Taylor.)