July 9, 2025 • 21 mins
When a father’s hope is shaken by his son’s torment, he brings his doubts to Jesus, who reveals that even a mustard seed of faith is enough to overcome the darkest forces.
A father pleads with Jesus to save his son, possessed by a violent demon, after the disciples fail to cast it out. In response to the man’s raw confession, “I believe, help my unbelief,” Jesus drives out the demon, showing that even the smallest amount of faith in Him can lead to miracles.
Today's Bible verse is Mark 9:24, from the King James Version.
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Lord, I believe, help my unbelief Mark nine twenty four.
Lord Jesus, we come to you with humble hearts, confessing
that we often struggle with doubt, like the father whose
son needed help. We believe, but we ask you to
help our unbelief. When fears and uncertainties cloud our minds.
(00:26):
Remind us of your faithfulness and power. We lay our
doubts at your feet, trusting that you are greater than
all our fears. Strengthen our faith were its weak, and
give us the courage to trust you fully even when
we cannot see the way. Help us to walk in confidence,
(00:49):
knowing that you are with us, guiding us every step.
May our hearts always seek you, finding peace and assurance
in your presence. Then your precious name, we pray Amen.
Thank you for praying with me today. This is the
Jesus Podcast, Gospel inspired stories told to awaken your imagination
(01:15):
and inspire your faith. This season, we are showcasing jesus
encounters with and power over demons. As this podcast given
you hope, we'd love it if you raided, reviewed and
shared it with a friend. Thanks for making the mission possible.
(01:37):
Abel let out a relaxed sigh. As he stepped into
his home, he hung his cloak on a hook and
placed his bag by the door. He walked into the
living room to rest his tired feet, but he paused
when he noticed some of the chairs had been knocked over.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Uh, Jeremiah, where are you?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
The man called out for his son, with a hint
of anxietiety in his voice. A few years prior, Abel's
wife had fallen ill and passed away into her sleep,
leaving him and their young son to press on through
life together. His son was all he had now, and
while he didn't like it, he often had to leave
(02:20):
Jeremiah home alone to go make ends meet for their
little family. As Abel moved his way through the house,
he heard a vase fall behind the house. He darted
for the back door, swinging it open, he found Jeremiah
staring into a pile of charcoal that burned with a
(02:40):
warm glow.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Ah, there you are. You had me worried. What are
you doing out here?
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Jeremiah didn't acknowledge his father. His eyes seemed to be
entranced with the smoldering embers. They will pull to Jeremiah's
shoulder to turn him around. Jeremiah's eye quickly darted up
to his father. Abel jumped back with a gasp. His
son's eyes were a dark gray. They studied the man
(03:10):
before him. The young boy cocked his head like he
was looking at a stranger. His head jittered back towards
the fire.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Jeremiah, what are you doing?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
The boy's throat gurgled as he let out a faint groan.
Abel leaned in to try and make sense of his
son's words, but as soon as he began to draw
his face nearer, Jeremiah lurched forward towards the coals. Abel
watched curiously, his concern steadily rising. In a flash, Jeremiah
(03:45):
leaped into the air, plummeting into the embers, His body
writhed with pain. He let out a haunting cackle as
his clothes began to catch fire. Abel threw himself at
the boy to pull him out. Jeremiah fought against his
father as he cried out in a strange mix of
(04:05):
agony and giddiness. Abel overpowered his son and pulled him
from the embers. Patting out the fire, He wrapped his
boy in his arms. As Jeremiah struggled to break free,
Abel began to sob.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's one thing to go through an intense trial yourself,
and it's another thing entirely to watch your child go
through it. If you are a parent, you understand that
you would rather endure mountains of pain if it meant
your child was spared. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. To day,
we're diving into a fascinating and powerful story found in
(04:47):
Matthew chapter seventeen fourteen through twenty one, Mark chapter nine,
verses fourteen through twenty nine, and Luke chapter nine, verses
thirty seven through forty three. It's a tale that involves
a desperate father, a tormented son, baffled disciples, and a
lesson about faith that can move mountains or in this case,
(05:08):
cast out demons.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Jesus descended down the mountain with Peter, James, and John.
Their faces still wore the shock in awe of what
had just occurred. They were able to see the heavenly
radiance of Jesus unveiled. For a moment on that mountain,
they were able to comprehend the greatest miracle of Jesus.
(05:32):
His greatest miracle was not turning water into wine, healing
the blind, or calming a storm. The miracle occurred every
day as he continually held back the entirety of his glory.
As they reached the base of the mountain, a large
commotion could be heard from camp. Peter was the first
(05:54):
to respond and run. The others followed, hurrying down the
path they reached and found a large crowd violently arguing
with the rest of the disciples. Jesus saw a few
members pointing at the disciples as they shouted.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
You frauds, Who are you to call yourself disciples of Jesus.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Peter found no time to reason as he lunged himself
into the crowd, separating from the disciples, but this only
made them more angry. One of them swung a Peter,
but before he could respond, Jesus pushed into the scene,
and the attention of the crowd, mister Brock. His presence
(06:35):
changed their countenance. Jesus addressed the crowd with deep concern,
what is going on here? The crowd parted and a
man emerged holding his son in his arms. He was
a short and portly man, quite possibly a butcher by trade.
His strong arms held up his boy, who could not
(06:56):
have been older than ten years of age. The boy
was limp in his father's arms grunting incessantly. The man
bowed to Jesus as he.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Spoke, Teacher, I brought my son to you. A spirit
had taken him.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Jesus peered at the boy. His eyes were rolled back
and his neck twitched from side to side. He scanned
the boy's body. It was covered in burn marks. The
father took notice of Jesus eyes and began to weep.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
His spirit comes it out. Notice, he will take control
of my son and throw him into the fire. He
foams it the mouth and grinds the teeth, and he
will throw by son into the water to drown.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
The man clenched his eyes closed, holding his son tightly.
He took every ounce of strength to carry on.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
He foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth there.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Then he will throw by son into the water to drown.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
And broke down, unable to console himself, Jesus caught a
glimpse of the Pharisees and scribes smirking in the corner.
They reveled in the disciples inability to cast out the demon.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
That's what you get for choosing fishermen and tax collectors
as your disciples.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
It's a pity that Jesus chose such vagrance. Jesus walked
toward them with his chest held high and his fists clenched.
He pointed to them with a gaze that was as
intense as a bolt of lightning.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
You crooked and perverse generation.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
His shout caused the religious men to quake in place.
They took offense to the confident rabbi, but dared not respond.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
Hastily faithless, that is what you are. How long must
I endure you?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Jesus looked at the child. He was in much mead.
The Pharisees would have their time of rebuking. There were
more important matters had had. Jesus' chest sank as he unclenched.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
His fists, Bring me the boy.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Abel stepped toward Jesus uneasily. He had already been let
down at once. He was terrified it would happen again,
but he couldn't bear the thought of losing his son,
to be left alone into the world. He lifted his
arms to hand the boy to Jesus. Just as he
did so, the demon awoke from his slumber. He had
(09:31):
felt the presence of the Messiah and knew his time
was almost up. The demon was determined to do as
much damage as he could within the few moments he
had left. The boy leaped out of his father's arms
on to the ground, and the demon thrashed his body
onto the floor, banging his head against the lungs. Full
(09:53):
of spike of the boy's life, his eyes rolled back
into their sockets. The demon was to determined to do
as much damage as he could. The crowd recoiled, terrified
that the boy might harm them too if they got
too close. The father fell on top of his son,
trying to restrain him, but the demon was too powerful.
(10:16):
He threw the father off of him and leaped towards him,
grabbing his throat. Abel's weathered hands cuffed the boy's wrists
like shackles, but the demon's strength was too much for
the exhausted father. The entire crowd could hear the slight
cracking of the father's throat. The demon's unnatural strength coursed
(10:38):
through Jeremiah's willowy body. Jesus stepped forward, grabbing the boy
from the top of his father. He restrained him in
his arms. Despite the demon's strength, Jesus held him firmly.
He had the arms of a craftsman tight from years
of working with wood and stone. The boy thrashed back
(11:01):
and forth, screaming with blood curdling volume. The father gasped
for air, sobbing at the sight of his son. The
boy writhed in Jesus arms, Yet Jesus remained calm, making
sure not to harm him. He looked at the father
and asked a simple but very necessary.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
Question, do you believe I can heal your son?
Speaker 1 (11:27):
The father opened up his hands to Jesus and shook
his head.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I I believe, Lord.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
There was a pause as the father stared at his son.
For years, this demon had plagued him. He had begun
to lose hope that anything could change. He was nervous.
His heart weighed the sincerity of his answer.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
I believe, but help my unbelief.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Jesus nodded. The man's response was honest and pure. He
did not give any false platitudes or promises. He simply
shared the state of his heart. He brought his real
and honest emotions. Jesus held the boy close, hugging him
(12:18):
as he struggled. Jesus's teeth clenched and his brow furled.
He hugged the boy with the loving embrace of a father.
Then with authority, he spoke to the demon.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Deep within you, mute and deaf spirit, hear the voice
of your Creator. I command you come out of this
boy and plague him no more.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
The boy's screams increased to a deafening level. He convulsed
and thrashed his body, until finally going limp, Jesus set
him down gently on the floor. The boy seemed dead
for a moment. However, Jesus grabbed his hand and lifted
him up on two feet. Jeremiah's knees buckled, but he
(13:13):
was caught by his father, who was weeping tears of
absolute joy.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Bye bye, You've returned to me.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
The boy was restored as his father embraced him. It
felt like he was meeting his son for the first time.
The crowd marveled at what they had just seen. Even
the disciples gazed on with wonder. They had done all
they could to rid the boy of the demon. But
(13:48):
what they couldn't do after hours of trying, Jesus had
done in mere seconds. Creation had indeed obeyed it without hesitation.
Abel thanked Jesus before taking his son by the hand.
They talked and laughed as they walked along the Sea
(14:11):
of Galilee back to their home. Abel looked across the water,
the calm, blue currents shimmered in the sun. For the
first time in years, he no longer looked at the
sea with terror, wondering if it would be his son's
watery grave. Jesus had rescued him from his greatest fears,
(14:35):
and now he was able to see the beauty of
life once more. As the two headed off, the disciples
circled around Jesus. John motioned to the father and son
on the horizon.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
Master, why weren't we able to cast out the demon?
Speaker 1 (14:53):
He had been afraid to ask the question, but Jesus
smiled a good sign he wasn't upset with It's.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
All a matter of faith. You cannot drive out demons
with human force. It must come from having faith in
the power of my spirit. Truly, I tell you, if
your faith as small as a mustard seed, you can
say to this mountain, move from here to day, and
it will move.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
The disciples stared at the ground, embarrassed, but Jesus next
words allowed them to lift their eyes with renewed hope.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Imagine descending from a mountaintop experience. Quite literally, Jesus, along
with Peter, James, and John, had just come down from
the Mount of Transfiguration, where they witnessed his divine glory.
As they returned to the valley, they step into chaos.
The crowd scribes arguing with the other disciples, and a
(15:56):
distraught father whose son is in dire straits. The father
approaches Jesus, kneeling and pleading, Lord, have mercy on my son,
for he is an epileptic and suffers severely Matthew, chapter seventeen,
verse fifteen. The boy is afflicted with seizures that throw
him into the fire or into the water, symptoms that
(16:18):
we might diagnose to day as epilepsy. However, the gospel
accounts reveal that a demon is the root cause of
his suffering. This isn't just a medical issue, it's a
spiritual battle. The demon has robbed the boy of speech
and hearing, making the situation seem even more hopeless. The
father adds, I brought him to your disciples, but they
(16:39):
could not cure him. Matthew chapter seventeen, verse sixteen. Jesus
responds with what seems like frustration, Oh, faithless and perverse generation,
How long shall I be with you? Matthew Chapter seventeen,
verse seventeen. He's addressing more than just the disciples. He's
speaking to a generation that struggles with unbelief. It's a
(17:03):
wake up call. The disciples had previously been given authority
to cast out demons in Matthew Chapter ten, verse eight.
So what went wrong here? Why couldn't they help this boy?
Jesus identifies the culprit unbelief. After Jesus rebukes the demon
and heals the boy, the disciples ask privately, why could
(17:24):
we not cast it out? Matthew Chapter seventeen, verse nineteen.
Jesus tells them because of your unbelief. For assuredly, I
say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed,
nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew, Chapter seventeen, verse twenty.
A mustard seed is tiny, yet Jesus says, that's enough
(17:46):
faith to move mountains. It's not about the quantity of faith,
but the quality and the object of that faith. Even
a small amount of genuine faith in a great God
can accomplish the impossible. Even a small amount of genuine
faith in a great God can accomplish the impossible. In
(18:07):
Mark's account, Jesus adds, this kind can come out by
nothing but prayer and fasting. Mark chapter nine, verse twenty nine.
Prayer and fasting aren't magic formulas. They are disciplines that
draw us closer to God, align our will with his,
and demonstrate our total dependence on him. The Disciples may
(18:30):
have taken past successes for granted, relying on their own
abilities rather than God's power. They needed a reminder that
spiritual victories require spiritual dependence. So how does this ancient
story speak to us today? First, we must learn to
identify the real enemy. Just as the boy's ailment was
(18:52):
more than physical, some of our struggles have deeper roots.
We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Prince,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places Ephesians chapter six, verse twelve.
Are we recognizing the true battles in our lives? Second,
(19:15):
we have to confront unbelief head on. Jesus pinpointed unbelief
as the obstacle. Doubt isn't the absence of faith, but
faith in the wrong things. Do we trust in our abilities,
our resources, or our wisdom or understanding more than we
do in God's power. Third, embrace dependence on God through
(19:36):
prayer and fasting. Cast all your anxieties on him because
He cares for you Firs. Peter, Chapter five, verse seven.
These disciples aren't about These disciplines aren't about earning God's favor,
but expressing our need for him. They position us to
be conduits of His power. When was the last time
(19:59):
we ca earnestly sought God through prayer and fasting. In
this story, the disciples faced a mountain of their own,
a demon they couldn't cast out. Jesus teaches them and
us that faith unlocks divine possibilities. But it's not faith
in faith, it's faith in Jesus, the one who has
(20:21):
authority over all things. Perhaps you're facing your own demon today,
the persistent problem, a broken relationship, an insurmountable obstacle. Remember
that Jesus invites us to bring these challenges to him,
and he doesn't just offer solutions, He offers himself. Let's
(20:43):
not be part of the faithless generation. Instead, let's be
people who, even with mustard seed sized faith, trust in
a mountain moving God. Let's commit ourselves to prayer, and
perhaps even fasting, not as rituals, but as expressions of
our deep dependence on him. In doing so, we'll find
(21:03):
that no mountain is too high, no demon too strong,
and no situation too hopeless when Jesus is in the equation.
In doing so, we'll find that no mountain is too high,
no demon is too strong, and no situation too hopeless
when Jesus is in the equation
Lord, I believe, help my unbelief Mark nine twenty four.
Lord Jesus, we come to you with humble hearts, confessing
that we often struggle with doubt, like the father whose
son needed help. We believe, but we ask you to
help our unbelief. When fears and uncertainties cloud our minds.
(00:26):
Remind us of your faithfulness and power. We lay our
doubts at your feet, trusting that you are greater than
all our fears. Strengthen our faith were its weak, and
give us the courage to trust you fully even when
we cannot see the way. Help us to walk in confidence,
(00:49):
knowing that you are with us, guiding us every step.
May our hearts always seek you, finding peace and assurance
in your presence. Then your precious name, we pray Amen.
Thank you for praying with me today. This is the
Jesus Podcast, Gospel inspired stories told to awaken your imagination
(01:15):
and inspire your faith. This season, we are showcasing jesus
encounters with and power over demons. As this podcast given
you hope, we'd love it if you raided, reviewed and
shared it with a friend. Thanks for making the mission possible.
(01:37):
Abel let out a relaxed sigh. As he stepped into
his home, he hung his cloak on a hook and
placed his bag by the door. He walked into the
living room to rest his tired feet, but he paused
when he noticed some of the chairs had been knocked over.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Uh, Jeremiah, where are you?
Speaker 1 (01:57):
The man called out for his son, with a hint
of anxietiety in his voice. A few years prior, Abel's
wife had fallen ill and passed away into her sleep,
leaving him and their young son to press on through
life together. His son was all he had now, and
while he didn't like it, he often had to leave
(02:20):
Jeremiah home alone to go make ends meet for their
little family. As Abel moved his way through the house,
he heard a vase fall behind the house. He darted
for the back door, swinging it open, he found Jeremiah
staring into a pile of charcoal that burned with a
(02:40):
warm glow.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Ah, there you are. You had me worried. What are
you doing out here?
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Jeremiah didn't acknowledge his father. His eyes seemed to be
entranced with the smoldering embers. They will pull to Jeremiah's
shoulder to turn him around. Jeremiah's eye quickly darted up
to his father. Abel jumped back with a gasp. His
son's eyes were a dark gray. They studied the man
(03:10):
before him. The young boy cocked his head like he
was looking at a stranger. His head jittered back towards
the fire.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Jeremiah, what are you doing?
Speaker 1 (03:22):
The boy's throat gurgled as he let out a faint groan.
Abel leaned in to try and make sense of his
son's words, but as soon as he began to draw
his face nearer, Jeremiah lurched forward towards the coals. Abel
watched curiously, his concern steadily rising. In a flash, Jeremiah
(03:45):
leaped into the air, plummeting into the embers, His body
writhed with pain. He let out a haunting cackle as
his clothes began to catch fire. Abel threw himself at
the boy to pull him out. Jeremiah fought against his
father as he cried out in a strange mix of
(04:05):
agony and giddiness. Abel overpowered his son and pulled him
from the embers. Patting out the fire, He wrapped his
boy in his arms. As Jeremiah struggled to break free,
Abel began to sob.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
It's one thing to go through an intense trial yourself,
and it's another thing entirely to watch your child go
through it. If you are a parent, you understand that
you would rather endure mountains of pain if it meant
your child was spared. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. To day,
we're diving into a fascinating and powerful story found in
(04:47):
Matthew chapter seventeen fourteen through twenty one, Mark chapter nine,
verses fourteen through twenty nine, and Luke chapter nine, verses
thirty seven through forty three. It's a tale that involves
a desperate father, a tormented son, baffled disciples, and a
lesson about faith that can move mountains or in this case,
(05:08):
cast out demons.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Jesus descended down the mountain with Peter, James, and John.
Their faces still wore the shock in awe of what
had just occurred. They were able to see the heavenly
radiance of Jesus unveiled. For a moment on that mountain,
they were able to comprehend the greatest miracle of Jesus.
(05:32):
His greatest miracle was not turning water into wine, healing
the blind, or calming a storm. The miracle occurred every
day as he continually held back the entirety of his glory.
As they reached the base of the mountain, a large
commotion could be heard from camp. Peter was the first
(05:54):
to respond and run. The others followed, hurrying down the
path they reached and found a large crowd violently arguing
with the rest of the disciples. Jesus saw a few
members pointing at the disciples as they shouted.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
You frauds, Who are you to call yourself disciples of Jesus.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Peter found no time to reason as he lunged himself
into the crowd, separating from the disciples, but this only
made them more angry. One of them swung a Peter,
but before he could respond, Jesus pushed into the scene,
and the attention of the crowd, mister Brock. His presence
(06:35):
changed their countenance. Jesus addressed the crowd with deep concern,
what is going on here? The crowd parted and a
man emerged holding his son in his arms. He was
a short and portly man, quite possibly a butcher by trade.
His strong arms held up his boy, who could not
(06:56):
have been older than ten years of age. The boy
was limp in his father's arms grunting incessantly. The man
bowed to Jesus as he.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Spoke, Teacher, I brought my son to you. A spirit
had taken him.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Jesus peered at the boy. His eyes were rolled back
and his neck twitched from side to side. He scanned
the boy's body. It was covered in burn marks. The
father took notice of Jesus eyes and began to weep.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
His spirit comes it out. Notice, he will take control
of my son and throw him into the fire. He
foams it the mouth and grinds the teeth, and he
will throw by son into the water to drown.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
The man clenched his eyes closed, holding his son tightly.
He took every ounce of strength to carry on.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
He foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth there.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Then he will throw by son into the water to drown.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
And broke down, unable to console himself, Jesus caught a
glimpse of the Pharisees and scribes smirking in the corner.
They reveled in the disciples inability to cast out the demon.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
That's what you get for choosing fishermen and tax collectors
as your disciples.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
It's a pity that Jesus chose such vagrance. Jesus walked
toward them with his chest held high and his fists clenched.
He pointed to them with a gaze that was as
intense as a bolt of lightning.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
You crooked and perverse generation.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
His shout caused the religious men to quake in place.
They took offense to the confident rabbi, but dared not respond.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
Hastily faithless, that is what you are. How long must
I endure you?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Jesus looked at the child. He was in much mead.
The Pharisees would have their time of rebuking. There were
more important matters had had. Jesus' chest sank as he unclenched.
Speaker 5 (09:05):
His fists, Bring me the boy.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Abel stepped toward Jesus uneasily. He had already been let
down at once. He was terrified it would happen again,
but he couldn't bear the thought of losing his son,
to be left alone into the world. He lifted his
arms to hand the boy to Jesus. Just as he
did so, the demon awoke from his slumber. He had
(09:31):
felt the presence of the Messiah and knew his time
was almost up. The demon was determined to do as
much damage as he could within the few moments he
had left. The boy leaped out of his father's arms
on to the ground, and the demon thrashed his body
onto the floor, banging his head against the lungs. Full
(09:53):
of spike of the boy's life, his eyes rolled back
into their sockets. The demon was to determined to do
as much damage as he could. The crowd recoiled, terrified
that the boy might harm them too if they got
too close. The father fell on top of his son,
trying to restrain him, but the demon was too powerful.
(10:16):
He threw the father off of him and leaped towards him,
grabbing his throat. Abel's weathered hands cuffed the boy's wrists
like shackles, but the demon's strength was too much for
the exhausted father. The entire crowd could hear the slight
cracking of the father's throat. The demon's unnatural strength coursed
(10:38):
through Jeremiah's willowy body. Jesus stepped forward, grabbing the boy
from the top of his father. He restrained him in
his arms. Despite the demon's strength, Jesus held him firmly.
He had the arms of a craftsman tight from years
of working with wood and stone. The boy thrashed back
(11:01):
and forth, screaming with blood curdling volume. The father gasped
for air, sobbing at the sight of his son. The
boy writhed in Jesus arms, Yet Jesus remained calm, making
sure not to harm him. He looked at the father
and asked a simple but very necessary.
Speaker 5 (11:23):
Question, do you believe I can heal your son?
Speaker 1 (11:27):
The father opened up his hands to Jesus and shook
his head.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
I I believe, Lord.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
There was a pause as the father stared at his son.
For years, this demon had plagued him. He had begun
to lose hope that anything could change. He was nervous.
His heart weighed the sincerity of his answer.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
I believe, but help my unbelief.
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Jesus nodded. The man's response was honest and pure. He
did not give any false platitudes or promises. He simply
shared the state of his heart. He brought his real
and honest emotions. Jesus held the boy close, hugging him
(12:18):
as he struggled. Jesus's teeth clenched and his brow furled.
He hugged the boy with the loving embrace of a father.
Then with authority, he spoke to the demon.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Deep within you, mute and deaf spirit, hear the voice
of your Creator. I command you come out of this
boy and plague him no more.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
The boy's screams increased to a deafening level. He convulsed
and thrashed his body, until finally going limp, Jesus set
him down gently on the floor. The boy seemed dead
for a moment. However, Jesus grabbed his hand and lifted
him up on two feet. Jeremiah's knees buckled, but he
(13:13):
was caught by his father, who was weeping tears of
absolute joy.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Bye bye, You've returned to me.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
The boy was restored as his father embraced him. It
felt like he was meeting his son for the first time.
The crowd marveled at what they had just seen. Even
the disciples gazed on with wonder. They had done all
they could to rid the boy of the demon. But
(13:48):
what they couldn't do after hours of trying, Jesus had
done in mere seconds. Creation had indeed obeyed it without hesitation.
Abel thanked Jesus before taking his son by the hand.
They talked and laughed as they walked along the Sea
(14:11):
of Galilee back to their home. Abel looked across the water,
the calm, blue currents shimmered in the sun. For the
first time in years, he no longer looked at the
sea with terror, wondering if it would be his son's
watery grave. Jesus had rescued him from his greatest fears,
(14:35):
and now he was able to see the beauty of
life once more. As the two headed off, the disciples
circled around Jesus. John motioned to the father and son
on the horizon.
Speaker 5 (14:49):
Master, why weren't we able to cast out the demon?
Speaker 1 (14:53):
He had been afraid to ask the question, but Jesus
smiled a good sign he wasn't upset with It's.
Speaker 5 (15:02):
All a matter of faith. You cannot drive out demons
with human force. It must come from having faith in
the power of my spirit. Truly, I tell you, if
your faith as small as a mustard seed, you can
say to this mountain, move from here to day, and
it will move.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
The disciples stared at the ground, embarrassed, but Jesus next
words allowed them to lift their eyes with renewed hope.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Imagine descending from a mountaintop experience. Quite literally, Jesus, along
with Peter, James, and John, had just come down from
the Mount of Transfiguration, where they witnessed his divine glory.
As they returned to the valley, they step into chaos.
The crowd scribes arguing with the other disciples, and a
(15:56):
distraught father whose son is in dire straits. The father
approaches Jesus, kneeling and pleading, Lord, have mercy on my son,
for he is an epileptic and suffers severely Matthew, chapter seventeen,
verse fifteen. The boy is afflicted with seizures that throw
him into the fire or into the water, symptoms that
(16:18):
we might diagnose to day as epilepsy. However, the gospel
accounts reveal that a demon is the root cause of
his suffering. This isn't just a medical issue, it's a
spiritual battle. The demon has robbed the boy of speech
and hearing, making the situation seem even more hopeless. The
father adds, I brought him to your disciples, but they
(16:39):
could not cure him. Matthew chapter seventeen, verse sixteen. Jesus
responds with what seems like frustration, Oh, faithless and perverse generation,
How long shall I be with you? Matthew Chapter seventeen,
verse seventeen. He's addressing more than just the disciples. He's
speaking to a generation that struggles with unbelief. It's a
(17:03):
wake up call. The disciples had previously been given authority
to cast out demons in Matthew Chapter ten, verse eight.
So what went wrong here? Why couldn't they help this boy?
Jesus identifies the culprit unbelief. After Jesus rebukes the demon
and heals the boy, the disciples ask privately, why could
(17:24):
we not cast it out? Matthew Chapter seventeen, verse nineteen.
Jesus tells them because of your unbelief. For assuredly, I
say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed,
nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew, Chapter seventeen, verse twenty.
A mustard seed is tiny, yet Jesus says, that's enough
(17:46):
faith to move mountains. It's not about the quantity of faith,
but the quality and the object of that faith. Even
a small amount of genuine faith in a great God
can accomplish the impossible. Even a small amount of genuine
faith in a great God can accomplish the impossible. In
(18:07):
Mark's account, Jesus adds, this kind can come out by
nothing but prayer and fasting. Mark chapter nine, verse twenty nine.
Prayer and fasting aren't magic formulas. They are disciplines that
draw us closer to God, align our will with his,
and demonstrate our total dependence on him. The Disciples may
(18:30):
have taken past successes for granted, relying on their own
abilities rather than God's power. They needed a reminder that
spiritual victories require spiritual dependence. So how does this ancient
story speak to us today? First, we must learn to
identify the real enemy. Just as the boy's ailment was
(18:52):
more than physical, some of our struggles have deeper roots.
We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Prince,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places Ephesians chapter six, verse twelve.
Are we recognizing the true battles in our lives? Second,
(19:15):
we have to confront unbelief head on. Jesus pinpointed unbelief
as the obstacle. Doubt isn't the absence of faith, but
faith in the wrong things. Do we trust in our abilities,
our resources, or our wisdom or understanding more than we
do in God's power. Third, embrace dependence on God through
(19:36):
prayer and fasting. Cast all your anxieties on him because
He cares for you Firs. Peter, Chapter five, verse seven.
These disciples aren't about These disciplines aren't about earning God's favor,
but expressing our need for him. They position us to
be conduits of His power. When was the last time
(19:59):
we ca earnestly sought God through prayer and fasting. In
this story, the disciples faced a mountain of their own,
a demon they couldn't cast out. Jesus teaches them and
us that faith unlocks divine possibilities. But it's not faith
in faith, it's faith in Jesus, the one who has
(20:21):
authority over all things. Perhaps you're facing your own demon today,
the persistent problem, a broken relationship, an insurmountable obstacle. Remember
that Jesus invites us to bring these challenges to him,
and he doesn't just offer solutions, He offers himself. Let's
(20:43):
not be part of the faithless generation. Instead, let's be
people who, even with mustard seed sized faith, trust in
a mountain moving God. Let's commit ourselves to prayer, and
perhaps even fasting, not as rituals, but as expressions of
our deep dependence on him. In doing so, we'll find
(21:03):
that no mountain is too high, no demon too strong,
and no situation too hopeless when Jesus is in the equation.
In doing so, we'll find that no mountain is too high,
no demon is too strong, and no situation too hopeless
when Jesus is in the equation
Host
Zak Shellabarger
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