Possessed Boy Healed

WHILE Jesus, Peter, James and John are away, likely on a spur of Mount Hermon, the other disciples run into a problem. On his return, Jesus immediately sees that something is wrong. There is a crowd gathered around his disciples, and the scribes are arguing with them. On seeing Jesus, the people are greatly surprised and run to greet him. "What are you disputing with them?" He asks.

Coming forward from the crowd, a man kneels before Jesus and explains: "Teacher, I brought my son to you because he has a speechless spirit; and wherever it seizes him it dashes him to the ground, and he foams and grinds his teeth and loses his strength. And I told your disciples to expel it, but they were not capable." The scribes are apparently making the most of the disciples' failure to heal the boy , perhaps ridiculing their efforts, at just this critical moment, Jesus arrives. "O faithless generation," he says, "how long must I continue with you? How long must I put up with you?"

Jesus seems to address his remarks to everyone present, but no doubt they are directed particularly to the scribes, who have been making trouble for his disciples. Next, Jesus says of the boy: "Bring him to me." But as the boy comes to Jesus, the demon that possesses him knocks him to the ground and throws him into violent convulsions. The boy rolls on the ground and foams at the mouth. "How long as this been happening to him?" Jesus asks. "From childhood on, " the father answers. "Time and time again [the demon] would throw him both into the fire and int o the water to destroy him." Then the father pleads: "If you can do anything, have pity on us and help us."

Perhaps for years, the father has been seeking help. And now, with the failure of Jesus' disciples, his despair is great. Picking up on the man's desperate appeal, Jesus is encouragingly says: "That expression, "if you can!' Why, all things can be to one if one has faith." I have faith!" the father immediately cries out, but he begs: "Help me out where I need the faith!"

Noticing that the crowd is running together upon them, Jesus rebukes the demon: "You speechless and deaf spirit, I order you to get out of him and enter into him no more." As the demon departs, it again causes the boy to cry out and drives him into many convulsions. Then the boy lies motionless on the ground, so that most of the people begin saying: "He is dead!" But Jesus takes the boy by the hand, and he rises.

Next time: Conclusion of Possessed Boy Healed

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991