Confessions and Professions

Scripture(s): Mark: 9:25-29

When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly [fn] gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You deaf and mute spirit, I command [fn] you, come out of him and do not enter him again." After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, "He is dead!" But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, "Why could we not drive it out?" And He said to them, "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer."

Commentary:
VIII. The cure of the child, and the conquest of this raging devil in the child. Christ saw the people come running together, expecting to see the issue of this trial of skill, and therefore kept them in suspense no longer, but rebuked the foul spirit; the unclean spirit, so it should be rendered, as in other places. Observe, 1. What the charge was which Christ gave to this unclean spirit; "Thou dumb and deaf spirit, that makest the poor child dumb and deaf, but shalt thyself be made to hear thy doom, and not be able to say any thing against it, come out of him immediately, and enter no more into him. Let him not only be brought out of this fit, but let his fits never return.’’ Note, Whom Christ cures, he cures effectually (Henry, 1996).

Satan may go out himself, and yet recover possession; but if Christ cast him out, he will keep him out. 2. How the unclean spirit took it; he grew yet more outrageous, he cried, and rent him sore, gave him such a twitch at parting, that he was as one dead; so loth was he to quit his hold, so exasperated at the superior power of Christ, so malicious to the child, and so desirous was he to kill him. Many said, He is dead. Thus the toss that a soul is in at the breaking of Satan’s power in it may perhaps be frightful for the present, but opens the door to lasting comfort. 3. How the child was perfectly restored (v. 27); Jesus took him by the hand, krateµsas—took fast hold of him, and strongly bore him up, and he arose and recovered, and all was well (Henry, 1996).


IX. The reason he gave to the disciples why they could not cast out this devil. They enquired of him privately why they could not, that wherein they were defective might be made up another time, and they might not again be thus publicly shamed; and he told them (v. 29), This kind can come forth by nothing but prayer and fasting. Whatever other difference there really might be, none appears between this and other kinds, but that the unclean spirit had had possession of this poor patient from a child, and that strengthened his interest, and confirmed his hold. When vicious habits are rooted by long usage, and begin to plead prescription, like chronical diseases that are hardly cured. Can the Aethiopian change his skin? The disciples must not think to do their work always with a like ease; some services call them to take more than ordinary pains; but Christ can do that with a word’s speaking, which they must prevail for the doing of by prayer and fasting (Henry, 1996).

Reflection:
A father of the child desired for his child to be released from being tormented, but overtime he most likely became exhausted and somewhat frustrated; and fearful for his child's life. That's when Jesus told him that all things were possible to them that believe. The father of the child professed that he indeed did not believe that his child could be healed. When he confessed his unbelief, and cried out to God; Jesus spoke to the demon that could not longer hold onto the words of doubt that had been spoken over the child.

Jesus set an example for us to follow when He healed the child of being tormented by a deaf and dumb spirit. When Jesus spoke to the spirit, he called out the name and characteristics of the spirit. He not only called out the name of the spirit, He told the spirit never to return again. He commanded the spirit to release the child, and the spirit had no other choice than to loose it's hold, and to never return again.

Jesus also explained to the disciples after they asked him, why they could not cast the spirit out. He told them that 'this spirit' could only come out by prayer and fasting. Therefore, the disciples would be better prepared for the next occasion that would call for more of an investment of them, of the authority that God had given to them to use His name, and His authority in the name of Jesus.

When we encounter situations in our lives that appear not to move, or when there is sickness in our bodies, or in the lives of others that we love and cherish, we need not be discouraged because we do not see the manifested healing that is promised through the word of God. We must hold to the word of God, and speak to the sickness that is trying to make us speak negative confessions and professions because what we see in the physical realm. Let us take to heart the meat of the word, and know that He is faithful that promised, and know that healing is the children's bread.

Prayer:
Father God, I thank you that you were wounded for my transgressions, you were bruised for my inquities. The chastisement of my peace was upon you, and by your stripes and I am healed.

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of Mark 9 - (NKJV - New King James Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 4 Mar 2010. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mar&c=9&t=NKJV
 
Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on Mark 9." . Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2010. 4 Mar 2010. http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm? AuthorID=4&contentID=1633&commInfo=5&topic=Mark&ar=Mar_9_25

Higgins, S. (2010). Confessions and Professions. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing, Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com