LUKE 9:37-45 DISCIPLES DEFEATED BY DEMON BUT JESUS DELIVERED BOY

DISCIPLES DEFEATED BY DEMON

BUT JESUS DELIVERED BOY

Luke 9:37-45

(Matthew 17:14-21 and Mark 9:17-29)

Luke 9:37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

Susie: Mark’s gospel tells us that in addition to the disciples and the usual crowd that followed Jesus, there were scribes present, poking about and asking questions (Mark 9:14).

Susan: The scribes were secretaries, experts in the law, reporters, and spies all rolled into one. They would give an account of all they had heard and seen to the Pharisees and chief priests when they returned to Jerusalem.

Luke 9:38-39 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

Susie: A man from the crowd addressed Jesus as “master” which is “didaskalŏs” in the Greek meaning “teacher.” It was a term of respect recognizing Jesus as a rabbi but not necessarily as Lord. He asked Jesus to take notice of his son who was his only child.

Susan: The man’s only child was possessed by a demon that tormented him all the time. The demon caused the boy to fall on the ground, writhing about as if in a seizure, and foaming at the mouth. It often left the boy badly bruised and almost lifeless.

Susie: Had this been merely a case of epilepsy, Dr. Luke would have said so. However, he attributed the behavior to demon possession.  

Luke 9:40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

Susan: The boy’s father had brought him to Jesus’s disciples while Jesus, Peter, James, and John were up on the mountain. Jesus had given His disciples authority and power to cast out demons earlier when He had sent them out. However, they could not cast this particular demon out of the boy.

Luke 9:41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

Susie: The question here is, “Who is Jesus calling faithless and perverse?”

Susan: He could be addressing the crowd as a whole, the scribes and unbelieving Jews, or even His own disciples. Or it could be all of the above. Suffice it say, one would not want to be one of those Jesus was lecturing.

Susie: I believe Jesus used the word “faithless,” because they did not have enough trust to believe the demon could be cast out and “perverse” because they chose not to believe in Him as the Son of God.

Susan: Perhaps their faith was in faith rather than the person of Jesus.

Susie: Perhaps their trust was in their own power, rather than relying on the Lord’s power.

Susan: The disciples may have been relying on the gifts instead of the Giver of gifts.

Susie: Then, Jesus turned to the father and told him to bring his son to Him.

Luke 9:42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

Susan: The demon gave Jesus an on the spot demonstration of his power over the boy. However, Jesus trumped the demon’s miniscule show of power by employing His own power to cast the demon out. Jesus delivered the boy completely whole back to his father’s care.

Luke 9:43a And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God.

Susie: Luke does not give details of the method Jesus used to cast the demon out, but the crowd observing the miracle had no doubt that the power of God was responsible for making the boy whole and demon-free. Jesus consistently gave all glory to God rather than Himself even though He was the Son of God.

Luke 9:43b-44 But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.

Susie: Jesus turned His attention away from the crowd and back to His own disciples. I like the way the Complete Jewish Bible translates verse 44:

Luke 9:44 (CJB) “Listen very carefully to what I’m going to say. The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

Susan: Jesus told the disciples to pay attention to His words. Using the Messianic euphemism “Son of Man,” Jesus explained that He was going to be handed over to those who persecuted and opposed Him.

Susie: Jesus used the word “betrayed,” which would imply that someone would be a traitor to Him. However, the disciples did not pick up on this.

Luke 9:45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Susan: God sovereignly hides or reveals truths to our intellects and spirits.

Susie: At this moment in time, God hid the full meaning of Jesus’s words from the disciples. Later, the Holy Spirit would enable them to look back and piece all these things together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Susan: The disciples were aware enough to know that Jesus’s words had gone swoosh right over their heads but were too embarrassed to ask for clarification.

Ponder this and Apply it: Luke does not get into the disciples asking why they were unable to cast out the demon. For that discussion, see the gospels of Matthew and Mark. However, the way Jesus addressed the people calling them “faithless” is a hint. As Susan said, our faith cannot be in faith. Our faith must be placed in the One who is able to deliver us. Our complete trust in Jesus is what empowers us to combat Satan and his demons. When the Holy Spirit indwells us, we cannot be possessed by a demon. However, Satan can still use his influence around us to hinder our efforts to serve the Lord. Jesus focused on the “joy set before Him” in order to endure the agony of the cross, and we are to “fix our eyes” on Jesus, placing our total trust in Him.

Hebrews 12:2 (NASB) . . . fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.