Jessus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

Introduction

Read Luke 9:37-43

Luke 9:37–43 ESV

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples,

Has there ever been a time in your life where your failure taught you more than your success in a particular endeavor?

Explanation

Luke is written after Matthew and Mark, but he omits two things from this text. And they seem like they would be important details. After all, most stories get more details the more it’s told, right?!

Mark 9:11–13 “And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.””

Matthew 17:20 “He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.””

Why does Luke lose the details? Because Luke wants to emphasize something that the other two accounts don’t emphasize.

He adds one thing to the account. Only one… Luke 9:43 “And all were astonished at the majesty of God.”

Why is this detail important? Let’s read teh text.

Luke 9:37–40 “On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.””

Peter, James, and John had just come down from the mountain where they saw Jesus transfigured. And they had to be asking the question, “Did that really happen?”

Have you ever felt that way about worshipping God? Something incredible happens, and when its over, you are kinda left wondering if it even actually happened?

I remember being at Central Hills Baptist Retreat in Kosciusko, MS.

I was 14, and the Lord just poured our his spirit and over 100 kids got saved. The next day, I got in the car, and I fought with my sister like 4 times on the way home.

Luke is honing the story to say, “What the disciples saw happening on the mountain, they saw the real world and started doubting in the valley.”

Friends, Jesus is no different on the mount of transfiguration than in the valley with the demon possessed boy.”

Luke 9:41–43 “Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples,”

Jesus rebukes their lack of faith.

Even in Jesus rebuke and the casting out of the demon, his glory was put on display.

Have faith that God can work even in the most mundane, difficult, and broken situations.

Conclusion