Matthew 17:14:21
The disciples tried to help him but couldn't. The devil showed out through the boy right in front of Jesus, but Jesus looked beyond his attitude. He got to the root of the problem, cast the demon out and set that child free. Jesus didn't just shake His head and say, "That child is just too bad. He can't come to me with all that going on. Jesus loved the child and did not allow the boy's behavior to distract Him from what really mattered, the child's life.
14 And when they had come to the multitude
It is beautiful to see people waiting for Jesus, the desire of all nations, a great crowd gathered, just waiting with great hopes, thirst and hunger to see and hear Jesus.
a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.
The man, desperately and earnestly kneeling down to Jesus, seeking His mercy, knowing He is merciful and will deliver his son. Demon was not only tormenting the boy’s spirit but also his body causing him to throw himself in the water (would say dirty water, or big unclean puddles) and in the fire (it was common to have fire outside, for cooking and other purposes).
16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”
The disciples failed to express and demonstrate faith, it is not about the ABC steps on deliverance or healing, it is about having a mustard seed level faith, not even a humongous one, just a tiny level. The anointing is there, it has been given to the disciples when Jesus gave them the great commission. It is given to us!
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 1John2:20
This anointing remains within us, it abides in us. But without faith, it will not be activated.
I believe that the disciples instead of keeping on praying and persisting, they were dragged to their failure of not being able to cast out the demon.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?
Jesus was not only disappointed saying this, he was longing to see a stronger faith. He surely had compassion because He wants to fulfill the man’s request, who did not really have any better faith than the disciples. Jesus saying this, was not to point out any failure or blame but saying it with grace and mercy in order to strengthen the faith of the man, the disciples and the crowd.
Bring him here to Me.
Jesus is the wonderful healer, He IS the great physician. This sentence is amazing and full of love and desire coming out from the heart of Jesus to deliver and heal this boy. The best practical application we should do, is to bring the desperate situations to Jesus. He is able to heal body, mind and soul.
He demonstrated mercy and compassion.
18 And Jesus rebuked(confronts and challenges the demon) the demon(demons were thought to cause mental problems, physical illnesses, natural disasters), and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”
The disciples must have been embarrassed that they failed, knowing that they have been empowered by Jesus to heal the sick and cast out demons. The good thing here is that they were honest with Jesus, and opened their hearts to Him. I believe this followed a repentence as well knowing that they were relying on the power they have received, looking at past success which brought them to a faithless platform.
We have to understand that faith will lead us into persistence, and we are called to resist the devil and he will flee from us.James 4:7. Resist the devil and not let the devil resist us, like in this boy’s case. The demon was resisting and the disciples had to persevere and resist which means actively fight against. And the result is guaranteed because that’s what the Spirit says, it will simply flee!
We are not to trust ourselves But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 2Cor 1:9
The disciples have relied on, their previous successes, their ability to carry out the will of God without constantly relying on God for strength.
20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
Jesus speaking about the faith level here, pointing out two things: Faith and mustard seed.
The faith, He is asking us here is Faith in HIM and only Him. Not in our skills, not in what we know, or do. When He speaks about faith, he speaks about persistence, to never lose heart.
The mustard seed is mentioned for the quality of faith not the quantity. It is good to know that the seed is usually about 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter!
Jesus is not asking us the impossible, He wants the impossible be possible for us. He wants the impossible never be an obstacle to us. He is giving us a promise here by asking us to have faith in Him. Ps 97:5 Because mountains melt like wax before the Lord. Nothing is impossible for Him, nothing can oppose Him.
21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
How graceful is God to promise us such thing! However, this promise is conditional: persistence in prayer and fasting.
Prayer and fasting will allow humility and understanding in choosing to rest in Jesus, seeking God’s will and depend on Him completely.
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