Jesus - The Real Source of Power - Mark 9:14-29

Sermon Series: Spare Me the Details - Just Give Me Jesus

Our 5 year old and our 3.5 year old enjoy watching Veggie Tales movies on occasion.  If you’re not familiar with Veggie Tales it’s an animated series about a bunch of vegetables that strive to teach children some of the great stories of the Bible.  Prior to teaching the Bible stories, one or more of the vegetables typically finds themselves in a predicament in which a story from the Bible can offer them some application about God’s love and how they should respond.  We have a handful of those DVDs at our home, so it’s hard to keep them all straight, but there is a particular scene from one of the movies that I was thinking about in regards to this week’s text.  Junior, who is a young asparagus, is in the middle of an intense daydream.  He’s daydreaming about a football game in which there are only two minutes left and one of the teams is getting beat something like 200 points to nothing.  Then Junior imagines himself, the losing team’s star quarterback, walking onto the field - late to the game because he has been away resolving some terrible world crisis.  Junior’s coach looks at him with mixed emotion.  He’s excited to see his star player but he’s also discouraged as he realizes the hopelessness of the situation.  With only two minutes remaining there is no way possible for their team to cover such a huge deficit.  But Junior is full of hope and steps onto the field to take control of the situation.  And as Junior’s daydream plays out Junior leads his team to what would have been an impossible come back.

Many of us (particularly us guys) have had a longing or a desire at some point in our lives to be the hero.  We imagine what it would be like to step into a situation and save the day.  We imagine ourselves doing the extraordinary.  Sometimes, as followers of Christ, that desire even spills over into our ministry efforts.  We have a desire to do something extraordinary for God – to come into a hopeless situation and to do something incredible for Him and His Kingdom.  The problem is that when it comes to doing extraordinary things for God and for His Kingdom we are incredibly limited in what we can accomplish.  It’s impossible for us to step into the role of God because He is the Creator and we are simply part of His creation.  He does call us to serve Him, but one of the things we find throughout the Bible is that God calls us to serve alongside of Him and in His power.  On our own and in our own power none of us is able to accomplish anything of Kingdom value.  So as individuals and churches we need to face the fact that we have limited abilities and limited power.  And while that does not excuse us from participating in ministry and Kingdom service, it does require that we have a right understanding about Jesus and the role that He plays in our service for Him.  That is exactly what Mark makes clear in the section of his gospel that we are covering in this post.  In Mark 9:14-29 we will see evidence that helps us understand that Jesus is the real source of ministry power.

Our text begins this week where we left off last week.  We saw in verses 9-13 that Jesus was coming down from the top of a high mountain with His three closest disciples, Peter, James, and John.  The text picks up this week with verse 14 as they re-join the other 9 disciples.  Mark says that as they draw close to the other disciples they saw a large crowd gathered around them and some scribes arguing with those disciples.  While the confrontation seemed to be holding the attention of the crowd it did not compare to the presence of Jesus, for when Jesus arrives verse 15 says that the crowd turns to run to Jesus and greet Him.  Jesus is apparently frustrated with the scribes (which isn’t any surprise to the readers) and in verse 16 asks them what they are arguing about with the disciples.  But before any of the scribes get to answer someone from the crowd cries out.  Verses 17 and 18 reveal that it is a father who has a son who is possessed by a demon, which literally lays hold of or takes possession of the boy, then throws him down and causes him to seizure.  The father had intentions of bringing the boy to Jesus but Jesus was absent from the scene when he arrived with his son.  So the father, desperate for help, asked the disciples to cast the demon out.  But the end of verse 18 tells us that they were unable to do it.

What was the problem?  Why weren’t the disciples able to cast out the demon?  The disciples themselves asked this very question later in verse 28.  The answer lies in verse 29, when Jesus tells them “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”  What Mark wanted his readers to understand and what Jesus wanted His disciples to understand is that they were not calling on God or seeking God’s help in this situation.  They were relying on their own strengths and abilities in order to try to cast the demon out.  And there in lies the problem.  The disciples had not stopped trying to minister but they were disconnected from the real source of power.  They had become overconfident in their own abilities and were relying on their own strengths.  And the truth is, when Jesus is absent, little is accomplished.  I can’t say that nothing is accomplished, because God has given each of us certain strengths and certain abilities.  But when we attempt to do things disconnected from Jesus, the real power source, we won’t ever accomplish anything that would turn people’s attention and gaze to God.  They may look at the little we are able to accomplish and pat us on the back, but they’ll never praise and worship the One, who by His power alone accomplished the extraordinary.  Apart from Jesus those disciples were left to their own power and ability, the boy is left unhealed, and the disciples resort to arguing.

What takes place in verse 19 has incredible application for us.  Jesus speaks to the crowd and says, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you?  How long am I to bear with you?”  The rebuke here is directed to the crowd, not to the disciples.  How do we know this?  Mark uses this particular word for ‘generation’ five times in his gospel (8:12 twice; 8:38; 9:19; 13:30) but never to reference the disciples.  Make sure you don’t miss this!  “Even though the disciples are insufficient for the task of healing the demon-possessed boy, Jesus does not chastise them.  Inability is simply a limitation, not a fault, as are hardness of heart and misunderstanding” (James Edwards).  So let’s make a few points very clearly: (1) If you have attempted to do the work of ministry in and of your own power and were unable to accomplish anything God doesn’t stand over you rebuking you for failure.  We are created beings who are dependent on God – we are not God ourselves.  (2) We can’t attempt to do the work of ministry in and of our own power and expect to accomplish anything of kingdom significance.  When we are disconnected from the real source of power (Jesus) we’ll stand frustrated in our attempts for change and we’ll resort to arguing in the midst of a watching world.  (3) We can’t allow Christians, churches, and ministries that may have disappointed us or proven to be ineffective because they were trying to do things in their own strength and power cause us to misunderstand God, doubt His power, or harden our hearts toward Him.  God is a God with immeasurable power and ability, and no where has that ever been more clearly demonstrated than in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  (4) We do need to understand our inability to accomplish anything of kingdom value and as disciples of Christ we have to be marked by a life on our knees.  We have to become a people who are convinced of our inadequacy and we have to plead with God to work in and through us so that we can accomplish great things for His kingdom.  We are called to serve Him – but we can’t ever presume that we can do that apart from Him.  We have to stay connected to the real source of power.

The people’s disbelief doesn’t keep Jesus from acting when He arrives on the scene.  At the end of Jesus’ rebuke He gives orders to bring the boy to Him.  In verse 20 we find that what the father had described to Jesus was true.  When the boy was brought to Jesus Mark says that the demon saw Jesus and immediately threw the boy into a seizure causing him to fall on the ground and foam at the mouth.  Jesus asks the father how long this demon had been affecting him, giving the father the chance to share with Jesus what had been taking place and what his heart was.  The father explains that the boy had been afflicted by the demon from childhood.  Understand this – from childhood this demon had held great power over this boy and his family.  It could literally lay hold of this boy at any time it wanted, often doing so in dangerous environments, causing the boy to fall into fire or water.  For years this demon had held great power over this boy and his father was desperate for help.  Now the father has turned his hope to the compassion of Jesus.  The father says to Jesus, “If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus is surprised at the first part of this father’s request - and here is where we need to pay careful attention.  The problem isn’t Jesus’ willingness or ability.  The problem lies in the disbelief of people.  So Jesus responds quoting the man’s request, “‘If you can!’  All things are possible for one who believes.”  Jesus refuses to be the determining factor in this situation.  The biggest factor in this situation isn’t Jesus’ ability or willingness.  The biggest factor is the placement of the father’s faith.  After Jesus makes this statement the father responds in an emphatic way - he literally ‘cries out,’ shouting, “I believe; help my unbelief.”  Verse 25 says that Jesus saw a crowd running towards them (the boy’s seizure and the father’s shout probably drawing their attention), so He quickly rebukes the demon and commands that it come out of the boy.  Then in a dramatic display the demon itself cries out, shakes the boy violently, and comes out of the boy, leaving Him as though He is dead.  In fact Mark says that most of those who were present believed that He was dead.  (This is a good place to point out a helpful observation.  Jesus’ presence in this story doesn’t bring about immediate resolution and good.  While the boy did suffer seizures as a result of this demon, it does not appear that he was suffering one until Jesus arrived on the scene and the demon saw Him.  So it was after Jesus’ arrival that the situation became a little more intense.  That’s not all though.  While the demon was in possession of the boy the boy was alive, but after Jesus casts the demon out the boy is left as though dead.  There is a truth here that we have to come to grips with.  James Edwards says it this way, “the presence of God can produce storm and stress before anything constructive is accomplished.”  At times we have to be patient and realize that Jesus sometimes goes with us through difficult times before He begins to shows His great power.)  In verse 27 Jesus does something awesome.  He reaches down, takes the boy by the hand, and He lifts him, so that the boy arises.  The language of this verse is so incredible.  The Greek word for ‘took’ is stronger in meaning than just to grab hold of.  The word used in the Greek suggests taking something or someone with power, so that the one taking becomes ruler, or master, of the object taken.  While the demon used to seize, or lay hold of, the boy (vs. 18), now Jesus is taking hold of him as the master over him.  We also have to recognize that the words Mark uses to describe Jesus ‘lifting him up’ and the boy ‘arising’ are loaded with resurrection imagery.  He wasn’t just lifted up off the ground, he was raised up like one being raised from sleep or death.  An incredible visualization of the question Peter, James, and John had been discussing in last week’s text, in verse 10. 

When Jesus was absent we saw that very little actually got accomplished.  But notice what happens when Jesus is present.  When Jesus is present – extraordinary things are accomplished.  Two things specifically took place here in this passage that the disciples could not have accomplished on their own.  First, demonic forces that once held power are rendered helpless.  Even though this demon had been laying hold of this boy and affecting him in terrible ways for many years, when Jesus casts it out it is helpless to do anything but obey.  Secondly, the one who was dead was raised to life again.  Those are incredible works of God!  Those are extraordinary accomplishments that no individual can do on his or her own.  What person in and of their own abilities has the power to render demonic forces helpless or to grant new life to those who are dead?  The answer is no one!  But when Jesus, the real source of power, is present, incredible acts of ministry are accomplished to the praise of His glory – not ours.

Mark outlines the application for us in verses 28 and 29.  In verses 28 and 29 Mark says, “and when He [Jesus] entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’  And He said to them, ‘This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.’”  Throughout Mark’s gospel individuals’ homes have been places where Jesus explains some of the things which have confused His disciples.  That continues to hold true in this passage.  When the disciples are alone with Jesus they ask Him to reveal to them why they were unable to cast the demon out of the boy.  Jesus complies with their request and explains to them that this kind can only be cast out by the use of prayer.  Jesus’ explanation explains for Mark’s readers the problem that existed earlier.  While Mark’s readers might have assumed that those disciples had been calling on God in prayer to cast the demon out of the boy, we find that that is a bad assumption.  Those disciples had in fact not been calling on God.  And if they had not been calling on God then they were attempting to cast the demon out by their own means and power.  Jesus explains to His disciples that there are tasks in ministry that we cannot accomplish in our own power and strength.  There are tasks in ministry that are beyond the abilities and strengths that God has given us as individuals and churches.  God’s presence and power are essential for doing the work of ministry in such a way that it will bring glory and honor to His Name.  And if God’s presence and power are essential then prayer is the key. 

As followers of Christ we have to understand that we are extremely limited in our abilities, strengths, and what we can accomplish on our own.  Apart from Jesus we can’t accomplish anything of kingdom significance.  When we understand that we will understand how crucial His presence is for life and ministry.  We will understand how desperate we are for His power and presence in our ministry.  And the way in which we invite God’s presence and power into our circumstances is through prayer.  Our understanding of our inadequacy as disciples should drive each of us to humble prayer.  If we want to do great things for His Kingdom then we need to be individuals who plead for His presence and power in our lives and ministry.  But let me ask you this: “If our understanding of our limitations and inadequacy to carry out kingdom ministry should drive us to prayer, what does our lack of prayer and pleading for God’s presence and power communicate?”  Doesn’t it communicate overconfidence in our own abilities?  And is that the confidence we need to have – confidence in ourselves?  Our faith and confidence needs to be in God and in His power alone. 

This section of Mark’s gospel has incredible implications for our evangelism.  Jesus comes into a scene where a demon is holding a young boy captive.  The disciples, in and of themselves are unable to do anything to free the boy from the demon.  But Jesus demonstrates that He has the ability to render demonic forces helpless when He commands the demon to come out of the boy.  When the demon comes out, it leaves the boy dead.  But Jesus also demonstrates that He has the power to grant new life by taking possession of the boy and raising him and granting him new life.  The Bible teaches that prior to coming to faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are each enslaved to sin and Satan (Romans 6:5-23) and dead in our trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1-10).  Our condition, prior to salvation, looks just like this boy’s – sin and Satan hold power over us and we are dead.  For many people around us – those we work with, those in our neighborhoods, those at our schools – this is their current condition.  There are many all around each of us that are held captive by Satan and are dead as a result of that.  And on our own we are completely incapable of doing anything about their condition.  We can’t free them from Satan and we can’t grant them new life.  But Mark says there is One who can help them.  There is One who can free them from sin and Satan.  There is One who can take possession of their life.  There is One who can grant them new life.  And if we are going to have any impact on their lives then we desperately need the power and presence of Jesus and the good news of the gospel (which itself has power for salvation – Romans 1:16).  Unless we are on our knees pleading with God to draw those far from Him, soften their hearts, and work change in their hearts, we will not see people come to faith in Christ.  We’ve got to invite the presence and power into our efforts to proclaim the gospel.  Only then will we see people turn from their sin and trust in Christ as Savior and Lord.

Allow me to wrap up this post with one final quote: “Service in fellowship with Christ is characterized by constant awareness of the inadequacy of the servant.  As this story illustrates, Jesus calls disciples to tasks beyond their abilities, and the fact that the tasks surpass their abilities is evidence that the ministry is Christ’s, not theirs.  The inadequacy of disciples is not their fault, nor should it have the effect of impairing either their faith or fellowship with Christ.  Rather, inadequacy drives the disciples to prayer, which is God’s gift to them and another form of fellowship with Jesus as their Lord.”  - James Edwards

Small Group Questions for Discussion

1. Think of some of your past ministry efforts - those you have undertaken as an individual and those you have been a part of with a church.  Who really received the honor and the glory for the ministry that you performed?  Did God receive the honor and the glory or did you/your church receive the honor and the glory?  Why was that?

2. What are we as a church trying to accomplish and how are we trying to do that?  How much of this can we accomplish on our own?  How fervently are we seeking God's power to help us?  Ask the same questions but this time instead of thinking in regards of our church, consider the questions in regards to our families and us as individuals.  

3. What are some of our weaknesses and limitations as individuals/church that we need to humbly recognize?  Having recognized those weaknesses and limitations, what are some ot the things that ought to be consistently marking our prayer lives?

4. What step of faith does this passage of Scripture require us to take as individuals and as a small group?  How do we work this out on mission?