Jesus Promises Power in Prayer - Part 1

Mark 9:14-18 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with the disciples. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
 
THIS begins a three-part look at Mark 9:14-29. Our purpose is to better understand the power God offers to us through prayer.
   Jesus, Peter, James and John are returning from a “mountain top experience”. The three disciples have witnessed God’s full glory descend upon Jesus in the Transfiguration. They have heard God’s voice tell them, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7) Those three disciples would be full of joy and wonder. Hopefully, too, they would have a very strong, determined faith through their remarkable personal experience with God.
   But as Jesus and the three return, the other nine disciples are in the midst of a spiritual battle. A desperate father has brought his deaf, mute, very ill son to them. He wants them to drive out the spirit that throws the boy to the ground and causes him to have severe seizures. But Jesus’ disciples cannot deliver the boy from the demon. What happened to the power Jesus had given them to do so? Mark 6:7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.  
   That’s why the teachers were arguing with the disciples. Apparently the teachers were mocking the disciples because they could not command the demon. Mocking the disciples is mocking Jesus. As we’ve mentioned, one reason Jesus healed and delivered people from demon possession was to demonstrate God’s power to forgive sins. If his disciples could not deliver the boy, then Jesus must be a false teacher. We must note a lesson here. If we say, “I am Jesus’ disciple.” our depth of faith reflects on our Lord. If we live content with a casual or weak faith, then people will see God as casual and weak. A strong faith demonstrates God’s strong hand. A strong faith tells God we are listening to his Son, with whom he is well pleased. One way to demonstrate a strong faith is through consistent, trusting prayer. We’ll learn more about that as Jesus responds to the father, the demon and the disciples.