Daily Devotions
Mark
2 Peter 2:16a "But he was rebuked for his iniquityâ?¦" 2 Peter 2:16a"
Day 203 – Mark 9
“But he was rebuked for his iniquity…” 2 Peter 2:16a
WITH OBVIOUS AUTHORITY AND POWER
There was no mistaking the authority and power of Jesus as He took charge of the situation at hand. It was useless trying to straighten out the dispute between the scribes and His Disciples. The multitudes were all watching intently. The father continued to battle his feelings of despair. The demon must have gloated that he was still in possession of the boy. Then Jesus uttered a single, straightforward command.
“Bring him to Me.”
MARK 9:19
DIRECT CONFRONTATION
The crowd watched with bated breath what Jesus would do next.
“Then they brought him to Him.
And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit
convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed,
foaming at the mouth.”
MARK 9:20
Why did the spirit do what it did when the mute lad was brought to Jesus?
1. On the surface
a) This was something he used to do to the boy.
b) This was an act of defiance on the part of the demon.
2. At a deeper level
a) All demons stand in terror of the Presence of Jesus.
b) They reacted in terror because they knew His authority and power.
WITH THE GREATEST SENSE OF CALMNESS
Jesus had a greater mission than to merely cast out the demon from the young lad. He wanted to minister specially to the distressed father.
“So He asked his father,
‘How long has this been happening to him?’
And he said, ‘From childhood.
And often he has thrown him both into the fire
and into the water to destroy him.
But if You can do anything, have compassion on us
and help us.'”
MARK 9:21-22
Jesus had time to talk to the boy’s father. He was not in the least impressed by the display of power by the mute demon. He would deal with the demon soon enough.