Proper 19 Series B

Series B
Proper 19

Isaiah 50:4–10
James 3:1–12
Mark 9:14–29

Christ Jesus Delivers Us from Sin, Death and the Devil

Those who teach the Word of God “will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1) because it is by the Word that saving faith is obtained, whereas false doctrine always threatens to destroy Christian faith and life. The tongue “boasts of great things,” whether for good or evil (James 3:5). In fallen man, “it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). But anyone who bridles his tongue with the Word of God, who “does not stumble in what he says, he is a "perfect man” (James 3:2). It is Christ who opens His ear to the voice of His Father, so that, with “the tongue of those who are taught,” He is able to sustain the weary “with a word.” (Isaiah 50:4–5). Entrusting Himself to His Father, even to death, He is not put to shame but is vindicated in His resurrection (Isaiah 50:6–9). By His faith and faithfulness, He casts out the “mute and deaf spirit” from us (Mark 9:25). He has compassion on us and helps us, so that we are not destroyed but cleansed from every evil and raised up from death to life (Mark 9:22–27).  

Proper 19

Mark 9:14-29

Jesus the Great Physician

Lord Jesus Christ, our support and defense in every need, continue to preserve Your Church in safety, govern her by Your goodness, and bless her with Your peace;

Lord, thank you for Your compassion, which brings You to our world of pain and dismay. Give us faith to overcome our trials, and help us believe that all things are possible with You.

Jesus descends from the transfiguration and meets a defiant demon an anxious father, an astonished crowd, and despairing disciples. Despair threatens to overwhelm our faith too but pointing out how we fail to change or improve, suggesting that God neither cares for us nor has power to help. However, Jesus does not linger in the glory of the transfiguration but graciously descends to a world of despair and doubt so that He might deliver us. 

Jesus has faced similar symptoms. Yet, this time an evil spirit. Now Jesus is back in the region of the Mt. of Transfiguration. 

Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

9:14 

και ελθοντες προς τους μαθητας ειδον οχλον πολυν περι αυτους και γραμματεις συζητουντας προς αυτους

And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 

- after they (Peter, James, John coming back from the mountain) saw a crowd around them debating with the disciples. A perspective from the four not just Jesus. The Master is gone so the experts debate with the other disciples.

9:15 

και ευθυς πας ο οχλος ιδοντες αυτον εξεθαμβηθησαν και προστρεχοντες ησπαζοντο αυτον

And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 

- The crows were astonished seeing Jesus and ran to Him...why did they marvel? Was it the fact that He Showed up...that He had the answers...that word about Him was growing...but here His disciples couldn't do it this time. The crowd will leave the Scribes alone and run to Jesus.

9:16 

και επηρωτησεν αυτους τι συζητειτε προς αυτους

And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 

- What are you arguing about? Who is the "them"? The rebuke will be against the disciples.  This is the Lord's "where are you?" rebuke spoken in the garden to Adam in Genesis 3.

9:17 

και απεκριθη αυτω εις εκ του οχλου διδασκαλε ηνεγκα τον υιον μου προς σε εχοντα πνευμα αλαλον

And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 

9:18 

και οπου εαν αυτον καταλαβη ρησσει αυτον και αφριζει και τριζει τους οδοντας και ξηραινεται και ειπα τοις μαθηταις σου ινα αυτο εκβαλωσιν και ουκ ισχυσαν

And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 

9:17-18 - a deaf spirit...wherever he's thrown down, foams, grinds, becomes rigid...why didn't you cast...but they had not the strength.  I brought my son to You Jesus...through the disciples and they didn't have the power...(a wrong assessment) he came expecting Jesus to be there, or that His power could come through the disciples...yet power comes from weakness, through prayer, fasting, 

"gnashing of teeth" the condition of those cast into outer darkness. Who has the might? and what does might look like? I looks like death; of a man suffering on a cross...it comes only through prayer...

9:19 

 ο δε αποκριθεις αυτοις λεγει ω γενεα απιστος εως ποτε προς υμας εσομαι εως ποτε ανεξομαι υμων φερετε αυτον προς με

And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 

9:20 

και ηνεγκαν αυτον προς αυτον και ιδων αυτον το πνευμα ευθυς συνεσπαραξεν αυτον και πεσων επι της γης εκυλιετο αφριζων

And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 

9:21 

και επηρωτησεν τον πατερα αυτου ποσος χρονος εστιν ως τουτο γεγονεν αυτω ο δε ειπεν εκ παιδιοθεν

And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 

9:22 

και πολλακις και εις πυρ αυτον εβαλεν και εις υδατα ινα απολεση αυτον αλλ ει τι δυνη βοηθησον ημιν σπλαγχνισθεις εφ ημας

And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 

9:23 

 ο δε ιησους ειπεν αυτω το ει δυνη παντα δυνατα τω πιστευοντιAnd Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 

9:24 

ευθυς κραξας ο πατηρ του παιδιου ελεγεν πιστευω βοηθει μου τη απιστια

Immediately the father of the child cried out[a] and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 

9:25 

ιδων δε ο ιησους οτι επισυντρεχει οχλος επετιμησεν τω πνευματι τω ακαθαρτω λεγων αυτω το αλαλον και κωφον πνευμα εγω επιτασσω σοι εξελθε εξ αυτου και μηκετι εισελθης εις αυτον

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.” 

9:26 

και κραξας και πολλα σπαραξας εξηλθεν και εγενετο ωσει νεκρος ωστε τους πολλους λεγειν οτι απεθανεν

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.” 

9:27 

ο δε ιησους κρατησας της χειρος αυτου ηγειρεν αυτον και ανεστη

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 

9:28 

και εισελθοντος αυτου εις οικον οι μαθηται αυτου κατ ιδιαν επηρωτων αυτον οτι ημεις ουκ ηδυνηθημεν εκβαλειν αυτο

And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 

9:29 

και ειπεν αυτοις τουτο το γενος εν ουδενι δυναται εξελθειν ει μη εν προσευχη

And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”[b]

Footnotes:

Mark 9:24 Some manuscripts add with tears

Mark 9:29 Some manuscripts add and fasting

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

1881 Westcott-Hort New Testament (WHNU) by Public Domain