The Life and Ministry of Jesus
And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Matthew 17:14–18
Our Lord’s first response was one of sorrow. As He beheld the embarrassed disciples, the arguing scribes, and the needy father and son, He groaned inwardly and said, “How long shall I be with you, and put up with you?” Their unbelief and spiritual perversity were a burden to Him. What must our Lord feel as He looks at powerless believers today?
Jesus delivered the boy and commanded the spirit never to return to him. The demon tried “one last throw” (as Spurgeon put it) so that the crowd thought the boy was dead. But Jesus raised the lad up and gave him to his father, while the crowds marveled and gave glory to God. 1
Personal Encouragement
When you evaluate your life today, would it cause Jesus to speak of your faithfulness or your faithlessness? In faith, surrender your greatest fear to Him right now.
And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. Luke 9:43
The more amazed we are about Him, the more faithful we become for Him.
A Prayer
Lord, please deliver us from the evil one, everyday.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
