Anchor My Faith

Jesus Heals the Boy

Scripture: Matthew 17:18; Mark 9:25-27; Luke 9:42-43

We ended the previous lesson with the father, of the demon possessed boy, crying out to Jesus to help him in his unbelief.

^{Mk 9:25} “And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” ²⁶ And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.”’

You can almost hear someone crying out to the crowd, “Hurry up. Come here and watch Jesus do a miracle!” Many followed Jesus, not because they believed, but because they wanted to watch for him to do or to say something that was like entertainment to them. I believe that was the case here, and Jesus sensing that, quickly called out the unclean spirit. As the spirit left the boy, it convulsed him terribly and left the boy appearing to the crowd as being dead.

^{Mk 9:27} “But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. ^{Lk 9:42} [Then Jesus] gave him back to his father. ^{Mt 17:18} And the boy was healed instantly. ^{Lk 9:43} And all were astonished at the majesty of God.”

Jesus reaches down to the boy and takes his hand, and at the touch the boy responds and stands up, free from his affliction and instantly healed, Jesus gives him to the father. The crowd was impressed by what took place as they were astonished at the majesty of God.

It is often beneficial to do a word study and see where a certain word is used. For example, the word “astonished” is first used in Luke 2:48 ESV: “And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” They were astonished by his conversation with the teachers in the temple.

Later in life, as Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath, those gathered “were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority” (Luke 3:32 ESV). First his parents were astonished and now those who listen to Jesus teach are astonished. In Luke 8:25 the word used was “marveled.” “He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”’ The disciples were astonished, or marveled, in witnessing the power Jesus had to control the elements of nature.

As we spend time with Jesus, we see his uniqueness. As a child he causes astonishment by the conversation he has with temple teachers. Then later in life he causes astonishment with those listening to him teach as he taught with authority. Further into his ministry, he causes the disciples to be astonished as they marvel at his ability to control the elements of nature. These are just three illustrations of how Jesus was set apart from those in the crowds.

Conclusion

The crowd that had gathered around Jesus as he talked with the father of the demon possessed boy, watched him cast out the demon. What they witnessed impressed them that this was accomplished by the power of God, causing them to be astonished at the majesty of God.