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Text Sermons : R.A. Torrey : Our Lord Healing the Demoniac Boy at the Foot of the Mount of Transfiguration Mark 9:14–29

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(Compare Matthew 17:14–20; Luke 9:37–43)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS

1. The Failure of the Disciples, vv. 14–19
While our Lord was in the mountain into what difficulty had the disciple fallen? In what state of mind were they in this emergency? Who came on the scene at this moment of defeat and distress? Is He likely to appear on the scene in the moment of His disciples’ failure, perplexity and despair? Was there anything better that the disciples could have been doing in their difficulty than engaging in controversy with the scribes? (Ps. 1:1; v. 29, R. V.) What was the effect upon the crowd of the appearance of our Lord?
Why were they amazed? (vv. 2, 3; compare Ex. 34:30.) To whom did He invite them to bring their questionings? If we wish our questionings settled where is the best place to take them? Are unbelievers usually as ready to bring their questionings to Christ as to His disciples?
Who was the first to reply to our Lord? Why was he so prompt to speak? What was his trouble? What was his boy’s condition? (See also Matt. 17:15; Luke 9:39.) Who was the author of this sad condition? What does this teach us about the Devil? What hint does it give as to what the condition of the world will be when he has unrestricted charge of affairs? What had the father done with his son? What is the best thing to do with a child who is in the devil’s power? In the absence of the Lord to whom had the man applied for help? Did he get it in that quarter? Do men nowadays ever apply to the disciples of Christ for help and fail to get what they might naturally expect? What is the best thing to do when Christ’s disciples fail us? Why were not the disciples able to cast the demon out? (Matt. 17:19, 20; Mark 9:28, 29.) Why is it today that the disciples of Christ so often fail to accomplish the mighty works expected of them? Did this man miss the desired blessing because of the failure of Christ’s disciples? Why not? (vv. 19, 20, 25.) Need we miss the blessings we desire because of the church’s failure in faith and prayer? What can we do? How did our Lord feel over the failure of His disciples (v. 19)? Had God elsewhere occasion to sorrow over and rebuke the unbelief of His people? (Num. 14:11, 22, 27; Ps. 78:6, 8, 22; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:25.) Has He any occasion to grieve over and rebuke the unbelief of His people today? (Luke 18:8.) What did He tell the man to do with his boy, seeing His disciples had failed? What can we do with our friends whenever every other source of help fails?
2. The Victory of the Son of God, vv. 20–29
Did it seem at first to do the boy any good to bring him to our Lord? Does it ever happen nowadays that our friends grow worse rather than better when we bring them to Him? What is the explanation of this aggravation of the boy’s malady upon bringing him to our Lord? (Rev. 12:12; Mark 1:26.) How long had this boy been mastered and tormented by the demon? Is the long-standing of the misery of our friends any reason for not bringing them to our Lord, or for doubting His readiness or ability to deliver them? (Mark 5:25; Luke 13:16; John 5:5, 6; 9:1, 20, 21; Acts 3:2; 4:22; 9:33; 14:8.)
For what did the father appeal? Did the cry for compassion and help ever rise into His ears unheeded? (Matt. 15:22–28; 20:31–34; 9:27–29.) Will it now? (Heb. 13:8.) Did the father have a very firm faith that our Lord could help him? How much faith did he have? Did he get the blessing sought? What was it very likely that made him doubts His ability to help him (v. 18)? What is the source of much of the unbelief in our Lord today? What did He reply (v. 23, R. V.)? Where shall we put the “if” in regard to receiving blessings from Him? How much can faith get and accomplish? (Mark 11:23, Matt. 17:20; 21:21, 22; John 11:40; Acts 14:9; Matt. 9:29.) What did the father reply? Did our Lord hear that prayer? If we are conscious of our lack of faith and desire more what should we do? (Luke 17:5.)
Did our Lord prolong the conversation? Why not (v. 25, R. V.)? Will a wise Christian worker carry on personal dealings with men if a crowd gathers? What did our Lord do? What difference marked His treatment of demons and of sinful men? What did the demon do? What truths are we taught about the devil and his angels by this? What was the condition of the boy when the demon had left? What did our Lord do? Before He can give the sinner life what must the sinner become? (Ro. 7:11; Gal. 3:24.) What did the disciples do? When we have met with some great failure what is the best thing to do? When they talked with Him alone about their failure what explanation did He give them of it (29, R. V.)? (Matt. 17:20.) If then we wish to win victories for Christ in conflict with Satan in the most extreme forms of his manifestation, what must we do? If we have already suffered defeat how may we turn defeat into victory? (2 Kings 4:31, 33–35.) Whom according to this lesson can our Lord save? What does the most helpless and hopeless victim of Satan need to do to get this salvation?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS

1. Our Lord
Comes to the help of His disciples in the moment of their failure and despair, 14–19; turns defeat into victory, 19–27; wishes the questions that perplex His disciples to be brought to Himself, 16; wishes the cases that defy His disciples’ power to be brought directly to Himself, wearied with the unbelief of His disciples, rebukes their unbelief, 19; His readiness to save—always hears the cry for compassion and help, 22–27; His power to save—can do anything that men trust Him for, 22, 23; rebukes, commands unclean spirits to depart, 25; casts out unclean spirits, 26; lifts up the one whom Satan has cast down, 27.
2. The Disciples
When the Lord left them for a season got into trouble at once, 14; discussed their failure with their enemies instead of carrying it to God in prayer, 14, 29; tried to cast out a demon and could not, 19; failed because of neglect of prayer and unbelief, 29, 19; their failure weakened the faith of others in their Master, 18, 22; wearied our Lord by their unbelief, received a severe rebuke, 19; talked to our Lord alone, sought and received an explanation of their defeat, 28, 29.
3. The Boy
His condition—in Satan’s grasp, 17–25; from childhood, 21; cast down by Satan, pining away, 18, R. V.; grievously torn, 20; life imperiled, 22; almost killed, 26; no help in man, 18.
What was done for him—brought to our Lord, 20.
The result—first became worse, 20; like dead, 26; taken by the hand, raised up, restored, 27.
4. The Father
His son in the devil’s power, sought to bring him to our Lord, 17; tried the disciples first, received no blessing, turned from the disciples and appealed to our Lord Himself, 18; but little faith, cried for compassion and help, 22; heard, shown that the blessing desired is not a question of Christ’s power, but of his own faith, 23; used the little faith he had, sought more faith, 24; got the blessing sought, 27.
5. The Devil
His awful power, 17–26; incredible malignity, 18, 20, 22, 26; real impotence—subject to Christ’s mere word, rage—made a final terrific but ineffectual struggle, seeming victory—left his victim as if dead, 26; overwhelming defeat—conquered by Jesus, 26; conquered by faith, 18, 19; conquered by prayer, 29.





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